T1R taste receptors and genes encoding same

ABSTRACT

Newly identified mammalian taste-cell-specific G protein-coupled receptors, and the genes and cDNA encoding said receptors are described. Specifically, T1R G protein-coupled receptors active in taste signaling, and the genes and cDNA encoding the same, are described, along with methods for isolating such genes and for isolating and expressing such receptors. Methods for representing taste perception of a particular tastant in a mammal are also described, as are methods for generating novel molecules or combinations of molecules that elicit a predetermined taste perception in a mammal, and methods for simulating one or more tastes. Further, methods for stimulating or blocking taste perception in a mammal are also disclosed.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is related to the following provisional applications: U.S. Ser. No. 60/187,546, filed Mar. 7, 2000, entitled, “NOVEL TASTE RECEPTOR AND GENE ENCODING SAME,” to Zozulya and Adler; U.S. Ser. No. 60/195,536, filed Apr. 7, 2000, entitled, “MAMMALIAN TASTE RECEPTOR AND HUMAN ORTHOLOG,” to Adler; U.S. Ser. No. 60/209,840, filed Jun. 6, 2000, entitled, “NOVEL TASTE RECEPTOR AND GENE ENCODING SAME,” to Zozulya and Adler, U.S. Ser. No. 66/214,213, filed Jun. 23, 2000, entitled, “NOVEL TASTE RECEPTOR AND GENE ENCODING SAME,” to Zozulya and Adler; U.S. Ser. No. 60/226,448, filed Aug. 17, 2000, entitled, “NOVEL TASTE RECEPTOR AND GENE ENCODING SAME,” to Zozulya and Adler, and U.S. Ser. No. 60/259,227, filed Jan. 3, 2001, entitled “T1R TASTE RECEPTORS AND GENES ENCODING SAME,” to Adler, Li, Staszewski, and O'Connell, which are all herein incorporated by reference in their entireties.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The invention relates to newly identified mammalian chemosensory G protein-coupled receptors, to family of such receptors, and to the genes and cDNA encoding said receptors. More particularly, the invention relates to newly identified mammalian chemosensory G protein-coupled receptors active in taste signaling, to a family of such receptors, to the genes and cDNA encoding said receptors, and to methods of using such receptors, genes, and cDNA in the analysis and discovery of taste modulators.

2. Description of the Related Art

The taste system provides sensory information about the chemical composition of the external world. Taste transduction is one of the most sophisticated forms of chemical-triggered sensation in animals. At present, the means by which taste sensations are elicited remains poorly understood. See, e.g., Margolskee, BioEssays, 15:645-50 (1993); Avenet et al., J. Membrane Biol., 112:1-8 (1989). Taste signaling is found throughout the animal kingdom, from simple metazoans to the most complex of vertebrates. Taste sensation is thought to involve distinct signaling pathways. These pathways are believed to be mediated by receptors, i.e., metabotropic or inotropic receptors. Cells which express taste receptors, when exposed to certain chemical stimuli, elicit taste sensation by depolarizing to generate an action potential, which is believed to trigger the sensation. This event is believed to trigger the release of neurotransmitters at gustatory afferent neuron synapses, thereby initiating signaling along neuronal pathways that mediate taste perception. See, e.g., Roper, Ann. Rev. Neurosci., 12:329-53 (1989).

As such, taste receptors specifically recognize molecules that elicit specific taste sensation. These molecules are also referred to herein as “tastants.” Many taste receptors belong to the 7-transmembrane receptor superfamily (Hoon et al., Cell 96:451 (1999); Adler et al., Cell 100:693 (2000)), which are also known as G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs). Other tastes are believed to be mediated by channel proteins. G protein-coupled receptors control many physiological functions, such as endocrine function, exocrine function, heart rate, lipolysis, carbohydrate metabolism, and transmembrane signaling. The biochemical analysis and molecular cloning of a number of such receptors has revealed many basic principles regarding the function of these receptors.

For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,691,188 describes how upon a ligand binding to a GPCR, the receptor presumably undergoes a conformational change leading to activation of the G protein. G proteins are comprised of three subunits: a guanyl nucleotide binding alpha. subunit, a .beta. subunit, and a .gamma. subunit. G proteins cycle between two forms, depending on whether GDP or GTP is bound to the cc subunit. When GDP is bound, the G protein exists as a heterotrimer: the G.alpha..beta..gamma. complex. When GTP is bound, the .alpha.subunit dissociates from the heterotrimer, leaving a G.beta..gamma. complex. When a G.alpha..beta..gamma. complex operatively associates with an activated G protein-coupled receptor in a cell membrane, the rate of exchange of GTP for bound GDP is increased and the rate of dissociation of the bound G.alpha. subunit from the G.alpha..beta..gamma. complex increases. The free G.alpha. subunit and G.beta..gamma. complex are thus capable of transmitting a signal to downstream elements of a variety of signal transduction pathways. These events form the basis for a multiplicity of different cell signaling phenomena, including for example the signaling phenomena that are identified as neurological sensory perceptions such as taste and/or smell.

Mammals are believed to have five basic taste modalities: sweet, bitter, sour, salty, and umami (the taste of monosodium glutamate). See, e.g., Kawamura et al., Introduction to Umami: A Basic Taste (1987); Kinnamon et al., Ann. Rev. Physiol., 54:715-31 (1992); Lindemann, Physiol. Rev., 76:718-66 (1996); Stewart et al., Am. J Physiol., 272:1-26 (1997). Numerous physiological studies in animals have shown that taste receptor cells may selectively respond to different chemical stimuli. See, e.g., Akabas et al., Science, 242:1047-50 (1988); Gilbertson et al., J. Gen. Physiol., 100:803-24 (1992); Bernhardt et al., J. Physiol., 490:325-36 (1996); Cummings et al., J. Neurophysiol., 75:1256-63 (1996).

In mammals, taste receptor cells are assembled into taste buds that are distributed into different papillae in the tongue epithelium. Circumvallate papillae, found at the very back of the tongue, contain hundreds to thousands of taste buds. By contrast, foliate papillae, localized to the posterior lateral edge of the tongue, contain dozens to hundreds of taste buds. Further, fungiform papillae, located at the front of the tongue, contain only a single or a few taste buds.

Each taste bud, depending on the species, contains 50-150 cells, including precursor cells, support cells, and taste receptor cells. See, e.g., Lindemann, Physiol. Rev., 76:718-66 (1996). Receptor cells are innervated at their base by afferent nerve endings that transmit information to the taste centers of the cortex through synapses in the brain stem and thalamus. Elucidating the mechanisms of taste cell signaling and information processing is important to understanding the function, regulation, and perception of the sense of taste.

Although much is known about the psychophysics and physiology of taste cell function, very little is known about the molecules and pathways that mediate its sensory signaling response. The identification and isolation of novel taste receptors and taste signaling molecules could allow for new methods of chemical and genetic modulation of taste transduction pathways. For example, the availability of receptor and channel molecules could permit the screening for high affinity agonists, antagonists, inverse agonists, and modulators of taste activity. Such taste modulating compounds could be useful in the pharmaceutical and food industries to improve the taste of a variety of consumer products, or to block undesirable tastes, e.g., in certain pharmaceuticals.

Complete or partial sequences of numerous human and other eukaryotic chemosensory receptors are currently known. See, e.g., Pilpel, Y. and Lancet, D., Protein Science, 8:969-977 (1999); Mombaerts, P., Annu. Rev. Neurosci., 22:487-50 (1999). See also, EP0867508A2, U.S. Pat. No. 5,874,243, WO 92/17585, WO 95/18140, WO 97/17444, WO 99/67282. Because of the complexity of ligand-receptor interactions, and more particularly tastant-receptor interactions, information about ligand-receptor recognition is lacking. In part, the present invention addresses the need for better understanding of the interactions between chemosensory receptors and chemical stimuli. The present invention also provides, among other things, novel chemosensory receptors, and methods for utilizing such receptors, and the genes a cDNAs encoding such receptors, to identify molecules that can be used to modulate chemosensory transduction, such as taste sensation.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to a new family of G protein-coupled receptors, and to the genes and cDNAs encoding said receptors. The receptors are thought to be primarily involved in sweet taste transduction, but can be involved in transducing signals from other taste modalities as well.

The invention provides methods for representing the perception of taste and/or for predicting the perception of taste in a mammal, including in a human. Preferably, such methods may be performed by using the receptors and genes encoding said receptors disclosed herein.

Toward that end, it is an object of the invention to provide a new family of mammalian G protein-coupled receptors, herein referred to as T1Rs, active in taste perception. It is another object of the invention to provide fragments and variants of such T1Rs that retain tastant-binding activity.

It is yet another object of the invention to provide nucleic acid sequences or molecules that encode such T1Rs, fragments, or variants thereof.

It is still another object of the invention to provide expression vectors which include nucleic acid sequences that encode such T1Rs, or fragments or variants thereof, which are operably linked to at least one regulatory sequence such as a promoter, enhancer, or other sequence involved in positive or negative gene transcription and/or translation.

It is still another object of the invention to provide human or non-human cells that functionally express at least one of such T1Rs, or fragments or variants thereof.

It is still another object of the invention to provide T1R fusion proteins or polypeptides which include at least a fragment of at least one of such T1Rs.

It is another object of the invention to provide an isolated nucleic acid molecule encoding a T1R polypeptide comprising a nucleic acid sequence that is at least 50%, preferably 75%, 85%, 90%, 95%, 96%, 97%, 98%, or 99% identical to a nucleic acid sequence selected from the group consisting of: SEQ ID NOS: 1, 2, 3, 9, 11, 13, 15, 16, 20, and conservatively modified variants thereof.

It is a further object of the invention to provide an isolated nucleic acid molecule comprising a nucleic acid sequence that encodes a polypeptide having an amino acid sequence at least 35 to 50%, and preferably 60%, 75%, 85%, 90%, 95%, 96%, 97%, 98%, or 99% identical to an amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of: SEQ ID NOS: 4, 10, 12, 14, 17, and conservatively modified variants thereof, wherein the fragment is at least 20, preferably 40, 60, 80, 100, 150, 200, or 250 amino acids in length. Optionally, the fragment can be an antigenic fragment which binds to an anti-T1R antibody.

It is still a further object of the invention to provide an isolated polypeptide comprising a variant of said fragment, wherein there is a variation in at most 10, preferably 5, 4, 3, 2, or 1 amino acid residues.

It is still another object of the invention to provide agonists or antagonists of such T1Rs, or fragments or variants thereof.

It is yet another object of the invention to provide methods for representing the perception of taste and/or for predicting the perception of taste in a mammal, including in a human. Preferably, such methods may be performed by using the T1Rs, or fragments or variants thereof, and genes encoding such T1Rs, or fragments or variants thereof, disclosed herein.

It is yet another object of the invention to provide novel molecules or combinations of molecules which elicit a predetermined taste perception in a mammal. Such molecules or compositions can be generated by determining a value of taste perception in a mammal for a known molecule or combinations of molecules; determining a value of taste perception in a mammal for one or more unknown molecules or combinations of molecules; comparing the value of taste perception in a mammal for one or more unknown compositions to the value of taste perception in a mammal for one or more known compositions; selecting a molecule or combination of molecules that elicits a predetermined taste perception in a mammal; and combining two or more unknown molecules or combinations of molecules to form a molecule or combination of molecules that elicits a predetermined taste perception in a mammal. The combining step yields a single molecule or a combination of molecules that elicits a predetermined taste perception in a mammal.

It is still a further object of the invention to provide a method of screening one or more compounds for the presence of a taste detectable by a mammal, comprising a step of contacting said one or more compounds with at least one of the disclosed T1Rs, fragments or variants thereof, preferably wherein the mammal is a human.

It is another object of the invention to provided a method for simulating a taste, comprising the steps of: for each of a plurality of T1Rs, or fragments of variants thereof disclosed herein, preferably human T1Rs, ascertaining the extent to which the T1R interacts with the tastant; and combining a plurality of compounds, each having a previously ascertained interaction with one or more of the T1Rs, in amounts that together provide a receptor-stimulation profile that mimics the profile for the taste. Interaction of a tastant with a T1R can be determined using any of the binding or reporter assays described herein. The plurality of compounds may then be combined to form a mixture. If desired, one or more of the plurality of the compounds can be combined covalently. The combined compounds substantially stimulate at least 50%, 60%, 70%, 75%, 80% or 90% or all of the receptors that are substantially stimulated by the tastant.

In yet another aspect of the invention, a method is provided wherein a plurality of standard compounds are tested against a plurality of T1Rs, or fragments or variants thereof, to ascertain the extent to which the T1Rs each interact with each standard compound, thereby generating a receptor stimulation profile for each standard compound. These receptor stimulation profiles may then be stored in a relational database on a data storage medium. The method may further comprise providing a desired receptor-stimulation profile for a taste; comparing the desired receptor stimulation profile to the relational database; and ascertaining one or more combinations of standard compounds that most closely match the desired receptor-stimulation profile. The method may further comprise combining standard compounds in one or more of the ascertained combinations to simulate the taste.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a method for representing taste perception of a particular tastant in a mammal, comprising the steps of: providing values X.sub.1 to X.sub.n representative of the quantitative stimulation of each of n T1Rs of said vertebrate, where n is greater than or equal to 2; and generating from said values a quantitative representation of taste perception. The T1Rs may be an taste receptor disclosed herein, or fragments or variants thereof, the representation may constitutes a point or a volume in n-dimensional space, may constitutes a graph or a spectrum, and may constitutes a matrix of quantitative representations. Also, the providing step may comprise contacting a plurality of recombinantly-produced T1Rs, or fragments or variants thereof, with a test composition and quantitatively measuring the interaction of said composition with said receptors.

It is yet another object of the invention to provide a method for predicting the taste perception in a mammal generated by one or more molecules or combinations of molecules yielding unknown taste perception in a mammal, comprising the steps of: providing values X.sub.1 to X.sub.n representative of the quantitative stimulation of each of n T1Rs of said vertebrate, where n is greater than or equal to 2; for one or more molecules or combinations of molecules yielding known taste perception in a mammal; and generating from said values a quantitative representation of taste perception in a mammal for the one or more molecules or combinations of molecules yielding known taste perception in a mammal, providing values X.sub.1 to X.sub.n representative of the quantitative stimulation of each of n T1Rs of said vertebrate, where n is greater than or equal to 2; for one or more molecules or combinations of molecules yielding unknown taste perception in a mammal; and generating from said values a quantitative representation of taste perception in a mammal for the one or more molecules or combinations of molecules yielding unknown taste perception in a mammal, and predicting the taste perception in a mammal generated by one or more molecules or combinations of molecules yielding unknown taste perception in a mammal by comparing the quantitative representation of taste perception in a mammal for the one or more molecules or combinations of molecules yielding unknown taste perception in a mammal to the quantitative representation of taste perception in a mammal for the one or more molecules or combinations of molecules yielding known taste perception in a mammal. The T1Rs used in this method may include a taste receptor, or fragment or variant thereof, disclosed herein.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a cryosection of frozen mouse tongue showing T1R3 gene expression in taste buds of mouse circumvallate papillae by in situ hybridization.

Select T1R3-expressing taste receptor cells are marked with arrows.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The invention thus provides isolated nucleic acid molecules encoding taste-cell-specific G protein-coupled receptors (“GPCR”), and the polypeptides they encode. These nucleic acid molecules and the polypeptides that they encode are members of the T1R family of taste-cell-specific GPCRs. Members of the T1R family of taste-cell-specific GPCRs are identified in Hoon et al., Cell, 96:541-551 (1999), WO 00/06592, and WO 00/06593, all of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entireties.

More particularly, the invention provides nucleic acids encoding a novel family of taste-cell-specific GPCRs. These nucleic acids and the receptors that they encode are referred to as members of the “T1R” family of taste-cell-specific GPCRs.

In particular embodiments of the invention, the T1R family members include rT1R3, mT1R3, hT1R3, and hT1R1. While not wishing to be bound by theory, it is believed that these taste-cell-specific GPCRs are components of the taste transduction pathway, and may be involved in the taste detection of sweet substances and/or other taste modalities.

Further, it is believed that T1R family members may act in combination with other T1R family members, other taste-cell-specific GPCRs, or a combination thereof, to thereby effect chemosensory taste transduction. For instance, it is believed that T1R1 and T1R3 may be coexpressed within the same taste receptor cell type, and the two receptors may physically interact to form a heterodimeric taste receptor. Alternatively, T1R1 and T1R3 may both independently bind to the same type of ligand, and their combined binding may result in a specific perceived taste sensation.

These nucleic acids provide valuable probes for the identification of taste cells, as the nucleic acids are specifically expressed in taste cells. For example, probes for T1R polypeptides and proteins can be used to identify taste cells present in foliate, circumvallate, and fungiform papillae, as well as taste cells present in the geschmackstreifen, oral cavity, gastrointestinal epithelium, and epiglottis. They may also serve as tools for the generation of taste topographic maps that elucidate the relationship between the taste cells of the tongue and taste sensory neurons leading to taste centers in the brain. In particular, methods of detecting T1Rs can be used to identify taste cells sensitive to sweet tastants or other specific modalities of tastants. Furthermore, the nucleic acids and the proteins they encode can be used as probes to dissect taste-induced behaviors. Also, chromosome localization of the genes encoding human T1Rs can be used to identify diseases, mutations, and traits caused by and associated with T1R family members.

The nucleic acids encoding the T1R proteins and polypeptides of the invention can be isolated from a variety of sources, genetically engineered, amplified, synthesized, and/or expressed recombinantly according to the methods disclosed in WO 00/035374, which is herein incorporated by reference in its entirety.

The invention also provides methods of screening for modulators, e.g., activators, inhibitors, stimulators, enhancers, agonists, and antagonists, of these novel taste-cell-specific GPCRs. Such modulators of taste transduction are useful for pharmacological, chemical, and genetic modulation of taste signaling pathways. These methods of screening can be used to identify high affinity agonists and antagonists of taste cell activity. These modulatory compounds can then be used in the food and pharmaceutical industries to customize taste, e.g., to modulate the sweet tastes of foods or drugs.

Thus, the invention provides assays for detecting and characterizing taste modulation, wherein T1R family members act as direct or indirect reporter molecules of the effect of modulators on taste transduction. GPCRs can be used in assays to, e.g., measure changes in ligand binding, ion concentration, membrane potential, current flow, ion flux, transcription, signal transduction, receptor-ligand interactions, second messenger concentrations, in vitro, in vivo, and ex vivo. In one embodiment, members of the T1R family can be used as indirect reporters via attachment to a second reporter molecule such as green fluorescent protein (see, e.g., Mistili & Spector, Nature Biotechnology, 15:961-964 (1997)). In another embodiment, T1R family members may be recombinantly expressed in cells, and modulation of taste transduction via GPCR activity may be assayed by measuring changes in Ca.sup.2+ levels and other intracellular messages such as cAMP, cGMP, or IP3.

In certain embodiments, a domain of a T1R polypeptide, e.g., an extracellular, transmembrane, or intracellular domain, is fused to a heterologous polypeptide, thereby forming a chimeric polypeptide, e.g., a chimeric polypeptide with GPCR activity. Such chimeric polypeptides are useful, e.g., in assays to identify ligands, agonists, antagonists, or other modulators of a T1R polypeptide. In addition, such chimeric polypeptides are useful to create novel taste receptors with novel ligand binding specificity, modes of regulation, signal transduction pathways, or other such properties, or to create novel taste receptors with novel combinations of ligand binding specificity, modes of regulation, signal transduction pathways, etc.

In one embodiment, a T1R polypeptide is expressed in a eukaryotic cell as a chimeric receptor with a heterologous, chaperone sequence that facilitates plasma membrane trafficking, or maturation and targeting through the secretory pathway. The optional heterologous sequence may be a rhodopsin sequence, such as an N-terminal fragment of a rhodopsin. Such chimeric T1R receptors can be expressed in any eukaryotic cell, such as HEK-293 cells. Preferably, the cells comprise a G protein, e.g., G.alpha.15 or G.alpha.16 or another type of promiscuous G protein capable of pairing a wide range of chemosensory GPCRs to an intracellular signaling pathway or to a signaling protein such as phospholipase C. Activation of such chimeric receptors in such cells can be detected using any standard method, such as by detecting changes in intracellular calcium by detecting FURA-2 dependent fluorescence in the cell. If preferred host cells do not express an appropriate G protein, they may be transfected with a gene encoding a promiscuous G protein such as those described in U.S. application Ser. No. 60/243,770, which is herein incorporated by reference in its entirety.

Methods of assaying for modulators of taste transduction include in vitro ligand-binding assays using: T1R polypeptides, portions thereof, i.e., the extracellular domain, transmembrane region, or combinations thereof, or chimeric proteins comprising one or more domains of a T1R family member; oocyte or tissue culture cells expressing T1R polypeptides, fragments, or fusion proteins; phosphorylation and dephosphorylation of T1R family members; G protein binding to GPCRs; ligand-binding assays; voltage, membrane potential and conductance changes; ion flux assays; changes in intracellular second messengers such as cGMP, CAMP and inositol triphosphate; changes in intracellular calcium levels; and neurotransmitter release.

Further, the invention provides methods of detecting T1R nucleic acid and protein expression, allowing investigation of taste transduction regulation and specific identification of taste receptor cells. T1R family members also provide useful nucleic acid probes for paternity and forensic investigations. T1R genes are also useful as a nucleic acid probes for identifying taste receptor cells, such as foliate, fungiform, circumvallate, geschmackstreifen, and epiglottis taste receptor cells. T1R receptors can also be used to generate monoclonal and polyclonal antibodies useful for identifying taste receptor cells. Taste receptor cells can be identified using techniques such as reverse transcription and amplification of mRNA, isolation of total RNA or poly A+RNA, northern blotting, dot blotting, in situ hybridization, RNase protection, S I digestion, probing DNA microchip arrays, western blots, and the like.

Functionally, the T1R polypeptides comprise a family of related seven transmembrane G protein-coupled receptors, which are believed to be involved in taste transduction and may interact with a G protein to mediate taste signal transduction (see, e.g., Fong, Cell Signal, 8:217 (1996); Baldwin, Curr. Opin. Cell Biol., 6:180 (1994)). Structurally, the nucleotide sequences of T1R family members may encode related polypeptides comprising an extracellular domain, seven transmembrane domains, and a cytoplasmic domain. Related T1R family genes from other species share at least about 50%, and optionally 60%, 70%, 80%, or 90%, nucleotide sequence identity over a region of at least about 50 nucleotides in length, optionally 100, 200, 500, or more nucleotides in length to SEQ ID NOS: 1, 2, 3, 9, 11, 13, 15, 16, 20, or conservatively modified variants thereof, or encode polypeptides sharing at least about 35 to 50%, and optionally 60%, 70%, 80%, or 90%, amino acid sequence identity over an amino acid region at least about 25 amino acids in length, optionally 50 to 100 amino acids in length to SEQ ID NOS: 4, 10, 12, 14, 17, or conservatively modified variants thereof.

Several consensus amino acid sequences or domains have also been identified that are characteristic of T1R family members. For example, T1R family members typically comprise a sequence having at least about 50%, optionally 55%, 60%, 65%, 70%, 75%, 80%, 85%, 90%, 95-99%, or higher, identity to T1R consensus sequences 1 and 2 (SEQ ID NOs 18 and 19, respectively). These conserved domains thus can be used to identify members of the T1R family, by identity, specific hybridization or amplification, or specific binding by antibodies raised against a domain. Such T1R consensus sequences have the following amino acid sequences: T1R Family Consensus Sequence 1: (SEQ ID NO: 18) (TR)C(FL)(RQP)R(RT)(SPV)(VERKT)FL(AE)(WL)(RHG)E T1R Family Consensus Sequence 2: (SEQ ID NO: 19) (LQ)P(EGT)(NRC)YN(RE)A(RK)(CGF)(VLI)T(FL)(AS)(ML)

These consensus sequences are inclusive of those found in the T1R polypeptides described herein, but T1R family members from other organisms may be expected to comprise consensus sequences having about 75% identity or more to the inclusive consensus sequences described specifically herein.

Specific regions of the T1R nucleotide and amino acid sequences may be used to identify polymorphic variants, interspecies homologs, and alleles of T1R family members. This identification can be made in vitro, e.g., under stringent hybridization conditions or PCR (e.g., using primers encoding the T1R consensus sequences identified above), or by using the sequence information in a computer system for comparison with other nucleotide sequences. Different alleles of T1R genes within a single species population will also be useful in determining whether differences in allelic sequences correlate to differences in taste perception between members of the population. Classical PCR-type amplification and cloning techniques are useful for isolating orthologs, for example, where degenerate primers are sufficient for detecting related genes across species, which typically have a higher level of relative identity than paralogous members of the T1R family within a single species.

For instance, degenerate primers SAP077 (SEQ. ID NO. 5) and SAP0079 (SEQ. ID NO. 6) can be used can be used to amplify and clone T1R3 genes from different mammalian genomes. In contrast, genes within a single species that are related to T1R3 are best identified using sequence pattern recognition software to look for related sequences. Typically, identification of polymorphic variants and alleles of T1R family members can be made by comparing an amino acid sequence of about 25 amino acids or more, e.g., 50-100 amino acids. Amino acid identity of approximately at least 35 to 50%, and optionally 60%, 70%, 75%, 80%, 85%, 90%, 95-99%, or above typically demonstrates that a protein is a polymorphic variant, interspecies homolog, or allele of a T1R family member. Sequence comparison can be performed using any of the sequence comparison algorithms discussed below. Antibodies that bind specifically to T1R polypeptides or a conserved region thereof can also be used to identify alleles, interspecies homologs, and polymorphic variants.

Polymorphic variants, interspecies homologs, and alleles of T1R genes can be confirmed by examining taste-cell-specific expression of the putative T1R polypeptide. Typically, T1R polypeptides having an amino acid sequence disclosed herein can be used as a positive control in comparison to the putative T1R polypeptide to demonstrate the identification of a polymorphic variant or allele of the T1R family member. The polymorphic variants, alleles, and interspecies homologs are expected to retain the seven transmembrane structure of a G protein-coupled receptor. For further detail, see WO 00/06592, which discloses related T1R family members, GPCR-B3s, the contents of which are herein incorporated by reference in a manner consistent with this disclosure. GPCR-B3 receptors are referred to herein as rT1R1 and mT1R1. Additionally, see WO 00/06593, which also discloses related T1R family members, GPCR-B4s, the contents of which are herein incorporated by reference in a manner consistent with this disclosure. GPCR-B4 receptors are referred to herein as rT1R2 and mT1R2.

Nucleotide and amino acid sequence information for T1R family members may also be used to construct models of taste-cell-specific polypeptides in a computer system. These models can be subsequently used to identify compounds that can activate or inhibit T1R receptor proteins. Such compounds that modulate the activity of T1R family members can then be used to investigate the role of T1R genes and receptors in taste transduction.

The present invention also provides assays, preferably high throughput assays, to identify molecules that interact with and/or modulate a T1R polypeptide. In numerous assays, a particular domain of a T1R family member is used, e.g., an extracellular, transmembrane, or intracellular domain or region. In numerous embodiments, an extracellular domain, transmembrane region or combination thereof may be bound to a solid substrate, and used, e.g., to isolate ligands, agonists, antagonists, or any other molecules that can bind to and/or modulate the activity of a T1R polypeptide.

In one aspect of the invention, a new human GPCR gene of the T1R family, termed hT1R3, is provided. The hT1R3 gene was identified from the human genome sequence database including the HTGS division of GenBank. The nucleotide and conceptually translated amino acid sequence for hT1R3 are provided in SEQ. ID NOS 1-4. The hT1R3 receptor was identified in the partially sequenced BAC genomic clone RP5-89003 (database accession number AL139287) by virtue of its sequence similarity to the candidate rat taste receptor rT1R1 (accession number AF127389). By reference, the pairwise identity between the predicted hT1R3 and rT1R1 protein sequences is approximately 34%. Sequence comparisons with additional members of the GPCR Family C (which includes the calcium-sensing receptors, putative V2R pheromone receptors, GABA-B receptors, fish taste receptors, and metabotropic glutamate receptors) indicate that hT1R3 is likely to belong to the Family C subgroup defined by T1R1 and a second rat candidate taste receptor (rT1R2, accession number AF127390).

The invention also provides the human ortholog, termed hT1R1, of a rat taste receptor, designated rT1R1. The gene products of rT1R1 and hT1R1 are approximately 74% identical. The mouse gene, mT1R1 has been reported, see Hoon et al., Cell, 96:541-551 (2000), and maps to a chromosomal interval homologous to the interval containing hT1R1. The nucleotide and conceptually-translated hT1R1 sequences are described herein as SEQ. ID NOS 15 and 16, respectively.

While not wishing to be bound to any particular theory, the T1R family of receptors is predicted to be involved in sweet taste transduction by virtue of the linkage of mT1R3 to the Sac locus, a locus on the distal end of chromosome four that influences sweet taste. Human T1R3 has also been reported to localize to 1p36.2-1p36.33, a region that displays conserved synteny with the mouse interval containing Sac and T1R1. However, T1R type receptors may mediate other taste modalities, such as bitter, umami, sour and salty.

Various conservative mutations and substitutions are envisioned to be within the scope of the invention. For instance, it would be within the level of skill in the art to perform amino acid substitutions using known protocols of recombinant gene technology including PCR, gene cloning, site-directed mutagenesis of cDNA, transfection of host cells, and in-vitro transcription. The variants could then be screened for taste-cell-specific GPCR functional activity.

A. Identification and Characterization of T1R Polypeptides

The amino acid sequences of the T1R proteins and polypeptides of the invention can be identified by putative translation of the coding nucleic acid sequences. These various amino acid sequences and the coding nucleic acid sequences may be compared to one another or to other sequences according to a number of methods.

For example, in sequence comparison, typically one sequence acts as a reference sequence, to which test sequences are compared. When using a sequence comparison algorithm, test and reference sequences are entered into a computer, subsequence coordinates are designated, if necessary, and sequence algorithm program parameters are designated. Default program parameters can be used, as described below for the BLASTN and BLASTP programs, or alternative parameters can be designated. The sequence comparison algorithm then calculates the percent sequence identities for the test sequences relative to the reference sequence, based on the program parameters.

A “comparison window,” as used herein, includes reference to a segment of any one of the number of contiguous positions selected from the group consisting of from 20 to 600, usually about 50 to about 200, more usually about 100 to about 150 in which a sequence may be compared to a reference sequence of the same number of contiguous positions after the two sequences are optimally aligned. Methods of alignment of sequences for comparison are well known in the art. Optimal alignment of sequences for comparison can be conducted, e.g., by the local homology algorithm of Smith & Waterman, Adv. Appl. Math. 2:482 (1981), by the homology alignment algorithm of Needleman & Wunsch, J Mol. Biol. 48:443 (1970), by the search for similarity method of Pearson & Lipman, Proc. Natl. Acad Sci. USA 85:2444 (1988), by computerized implementations of these algorithms (GAP, BESTFIT, FASTA, and TFASTA in the Wisconsin Genetics Software Package, Genetics Computer Group, 575 Science Dr., Madison, Wis.), or by manual alignment and visual inspection (see, e.g., Current Protocols in Molecular Biology (Ausubel et al., eds. 1995 supplement)).

A preferred example of an algorithm that is suitable for determining percent sequence identity are the BLAST and BLAST 2.0 algorithms, which are described in Latched et at, Nuc Acids Res. 25:3389-3402 (1977) and Altschul et al. J. Mol Biol. 2 15:403-410 (1990), respectively. Software for performing BLAST analyses is publicly available through the National Center for Biotechnology Information. This algorithm involves first identifying high scoring sequence pairs (HSPs) by identifying short words of length W in the query sequence, which either match or satisfy some positive-valued threshold score T when aligned with a word of the same length in a database sequence. T is referred to as the neighborhood word score threshold (Altschul et al., Altschul et al., Nuc. Acids Res. 25:3389-3402 (1977) and Altschul et al. J. Mol Biol. 215:403-410 (1990)). These initial neighborhood word hits act as seeds for initiating searches to find longer HSPs containing them. The word hits are extended in both directions along each sequence for as far as the cumulative alignment score can be increased. Cumulative scores are calculated using, for nucleotide sequences, the parameters M (reward score for a pair of matching residues; always >0). For amino acid sequences, a scoring matrix is used to calculate the cumulative score. Extension of the word hits in each direction are halted when: the cumulative alignment score falls off by the quantity X from its maximum achieved value; the cumulative score goes to zero or below, due to the accumulation of one or more negative-scoring residue alignments; or the end of either sequence is reached. The BLAST algorithm parameters W, T, and X determine the sensitivity and speed of the alignment. The BLASTN program (for nucleotide sequences) uses as defaults a wordlength (W) of 11, an expectation (E) or 10, M=5, N=4 and a comparison of both strands. For amino acid sequences, the BLASTP program uses as defaults a wordlength of 3, and expectation (E) of 10 and the BLOSUM62 scoring matrix (see Henikoff & Henikoff, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 89:10915 (1989)) alignment s(B) of 50, expectation (E) of 10, M=5, Nz=4, and a comparison of both strands.

Another example of a useful algorithm is PILEUP. PILEUP creates a multiple sequence alignment from a group of related sequences using progressive, pairwise alignments to show relationship and percent sequence identity. It also plots a so-called “tree” or “dendogram” showing the clustering relationships used to create the alignment (see, e.g., FIG. 2). PILEUP uses a simplification of the progressive alignment method of Feng & Doolittle, J Mol. Evol. 35:351-360 (1987). The method used is similar to the method described by Higgins & Sharp, CABIOS 5:151-153 (1989). The program can align up to 300 sequences, each of a maximum length of 5,000 nucleotides or amino acids. The multiple alignment procedure begins with the pairwise alignment of the two most similar sequences, producing a cluster of two aligned sequences. This cluster is then aligned to the next most related sequence or cluster of aligned sequences. Two clusters of sequences are aligned by a simple extension of the pairwise alignment of two individual sequences. The final alignment is achieved by a series of progressive, pairwise alignments. The program is run by designating specific sequences and their amino acid or nucleotide coordinates for regions of sequence comparison and by designating the program parameters. Using PILEUP, a reference sequence is compared to other test sequences to determine the percent sequence identity relationship using the following parameters: default gap weight (3.00), default gap length weight (0.10), and weighted end gaps. PILEUP can be obtained from the GCG sequence analysis software package, e.g., version 7.0 (Devereaux et al., Nuc. Acids Res. 12:387-395 (1984) encoded by the genes were derived by conceptual translation of the corresponding open reading frames. Comparison of these protein sequences to all known proteins in the public sequence databases using BLASTP algorithm revealed their strong homology to the members of the T1R family, each of the T1R family sequences having at least about 35 to 50%, and preferably at least 55%, at least 60%, at least 65%, and most preferably at least 70%, amino acid identity to at least one known member of the family.

B. Definitions

As used herein, the following terms have the meanings ascribed to them unless specified otherwise. “Taste cells” include neuroepithelial cells that are organized into groups to form taste buds of the tongue, e.g., foliate, fungiform, and circumvallate cells (see, e.g., Roper et al., Ann. Rev. Neurosci. 12:329-353 (1989)). Taste cells are also found in the palate and other tissues, such as the esophagus and the stomach.

“T1R” refers to one or more members of a family of G protein-coupled receptors that are expressed in taste cells such as foliate, fungiform, and circumvallate cells, as well as cells of the palate, and esophagus (see, e.g., Hoon et al., Cell, 96:541-551 (1999), herein incorporated by reference in its entirety). Members of this family are also referred to as GPCR-B3 and TR1 in WO 00/06592 as well as GPCR-B4 and TR2 in WO 00/06593. GPCR-B3 is also herein referred to as rT1R1, and GPCR-B4 is referred to as rT1R2. Taste receptor cells can also be identified on the basis of morphology (see, e.g., Roper, supra), or by the expression of proteins specifically expressed in taste cells. T1R family members may have the ability to act as receptors for sweet taste transduction, or to distinguish between various other taste modalities. “T1R” nucleic acids encode a family of GPCRs with seven transmembrane regions that have “G protein-coupled receptor activity,” e.g., they may bind to G proteins in response to extracellular stimuli and promote production of second messengers such as IP3, cAMP, cGMP, and Ca.sup.2+ via stimulation of enzymes such as phospholipase C and adenylate cyclase (for a description of the structure and function of GPCRs, see, e.g., Fong, supra, and Baldwin, supra). A single taste cell may contain many distinct T1R polypeptides.

The term “T1R” family therefore refers to polymorphic variants, alleles, mutants, and interspecies homologs that: (1) have at least about 35 to 50% amino acid sequence identity, optionally about 60, 75, 80, 85, 90, 95, 96, 97, 98, or 99% amino acid sequence identity to SEQ ID NOS: 4, 10, 12, 14, or 17, over a window of about 25 amino acids, optionally 50-100 amino acids; (2) specifically bind to antibodies raised against an immunogen comprising an amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NOS: 4, 10, 12, 14, 17, and conservatively modified variants thereof; (3) are encoded by a nucleic acid molecule which specifically hybridize (with a size of at least about 100, optionally at least about 500-1000 nucleotides) under stringent hybridization conditions to a sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NOS: 1, 2, 3, 9, 11, 13, 15, 16, 20, and conservatively modified variants thereof; (4) comprise a sequence at least about 35 to 50% identical to an amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NOS: 4, 10, 12, 14, or 17; or (5) are amplified by primers that specifically hybridize under stringent hybridization conditions to the same sequence as degenerate primer sets encoding SEQ ID NOS: 7, 8, and conservatively modified variants thereof.

Topologically, certain chemosensory GPCRs have an “N-terminal domain;” “extracellular domains;” “transmembrane domains” comprising seven transmembrane regions, and corresponding cytoplasmic, and extracellular loops; “cytoplasmic domains,” and a “C-terminal domain” (see, e.g., Hoon et al., Cell, 96:541-551 (1999); Buck & Axel, Cell, 65:175-187 (1991)). These domains can be structurally identified using methods known to those of skill in the art, such as sequence analysis programs that identify hydrophobic and hydrophilic domains (see, e.g., Stryer, Biochemistry, (3rd ed. 1988); see also any of a number of Internet based sequence analysis programs, such as those found at dot.imgen.bcm.tmc.edu). Such domains are useful for making chimeric proteins and for in vitro assays of the invention, e.g., ligand-binding assays.

“Extracellular domains” therefore refers to the domains of T1R polypeptides that protrude from the cellular membrane and are exposed to the extracellular face of the cell. Such domains generally include the “N terminal domain” that is exposed to the extracellular face of the cell, and optionally can include portions of the extracellular loops of the transmembrane domain that are exposed to the extracellular face of the cell, i.e., the loops between transmembrane regions 2 and 3, between transmembrane regions 4 and 5, and between transmembrane regions 6 and 7.

The “N terminal domain” region starts at the N-terminus and extends to a region close to the start of the transmembrane domain. More particularly, in one embodiment of the invention, this domain starts at the N-terminus and ends approximately at the conserved glutamic acid at amino acid position 563 plus or minus approximately 20 amino acid. The region corresponding to amino acids 1-580 of SEQ ID 40 is a particular embodiment of an extracellular domain that extends slightly into the transmembrane domain. These extracellular domains are useful for in vitro ligand-binding assays, both soluble and solid phase. In addition, transmembrane regions, described below, can also bind ligand either in combination with the extracellular domain, and are therefore also useful for in vitro ligand-binding assays. “Transmembrane domain,” which comprises the seven “transmembrane regions,” refers to the domain of T1R polypeptides that lies within the plasma membrane, and may also include the corresponding cytoplasmic (intracellular) and extracellular loops. In one embodiment, this region corresponds to the domain of T1R family members which starts approximately at the conserved glutamic acid residue at amino acid position 563 plus or minus 20 amino acids and ends approximately at the conserved tyrosine amino acid residue at position 812 plus or minus approximately 10 amino acids. The seven transmembrane regions and extracellular and cytoplasmic loops can be identified using standard methods, as described in Kyte & Doolittle, J. Mol. Biol., 157:105-32 (1982)), or in Stryer, supra.

“Cytoplasmic domains” refers to the domains of T1R polypeptides that face the inside of the cell, e.g., the “C terminal domain” and the intracellular loops of the transmembrane domain, e.g., the intracellular loop between transmembrane regions 1 and 2, the intracellular loop between transmembrane regions 3 and 4, and the intracellular loop between transmembrane regions 5 and 6. “C terminal domain” refers to the region that spans the end of the last transmembrane domain and the C-terminus of the protein, and which is normally located within the cytoplasm. In one embodiment, this region starts at the conserved tyrosine amino acid residue at position 812 plus or minus approximately 10 amino acids and continues to the C-terminus of the polypeptide.

The term “ligand-binding region” or “ligand-binding domain” refers to sequences derived from a chemosensory receptor, particularly a taste receptor, that substantially incorporates at least the extracellular domain of the receptor. In one embodiment, the extracellular domain of the ligand-binding region may include the N-terminal domain and, optionally, portions of the transmembrane domain, such as the extracellular loops of the transmembrane domain. The ligand-binding region may be capable of binding a ligand, and more particularly, a tastant.

The phrase “functional effects” in the context of assays for testing compounds that modulate T1R family member mediated taste transduction includes the determination of any parameter that is indirectly or directly under the influence of the receptor, e.g., functional, physical and chemical effects. It includes ligand binding, changes in ion flux, membrane potential, current flow, transcription, G protein binding, GPCR phosphorylation or dephosphorylation, signal transduction, receptor-ligand interactions, second messenger concentrations (e.g., cAMP, cGMP, IP3, or intracellular Ca.sup.2+), in vitro, in vivo, and ex vivo and also includes other physiologic effects such increases or decreases of neurotransmitter or hormone release.

By “determining the functional effect” in the context of assays is meant assays for a compound that increases or decreases a parameter that is indirectly or directly under the influence of a T1R family member, e.g., functional, physical and chemical effects. Such functional effects can be measured by any means known to those skilled in the art, e.g., changes in spectroscopic characteristics (e.g., fluorescence, absorbance, refractive index), hydrodynamic (e.g., shape), chromatographic, or solubility properties, patch clamping, voltage-sensitive dyes, whole cell currents, radioisotope efflux, inducible markers, oocyte T1R gene expression; tissue culture cell T1R expression; transcriptional activation of T1R genes; ligand-binding assays; voltage, membrane potential and conductance changes; ion flux assays; changes in intracellular second messengers such as cAMP, cGMP, and inositol triphosphate (IP3); changes in intracellular calcium levels; neurotransmitter release, and the like.

“Inhibitors,” “activators,” and “modulators” of T1R genes or proteins are used interchangeably to refer to inhibitory, activating, or modulating molecules identified using in vitro and in vivo assays for taste transduction, e.g., ligands, agonists, antagonists, and their homologs and mimetics. Inhibitors are compounds that, e.g., bind to, partially or totally block stimulation, decrease, prevent, delay activation, inactivate, desensitize, or down regulate taste transduction, e.g., antagonists. Activators are compounds that, e.g., bind to, stimulate, increase, open, activate, facilitate, enhance activation, sensitize, or up regulate taste transduction, e.g., agonists. Modulators include compounds that, e.g., alter the interaction of a receptor with: extracellular proteins that bind activators or inhibitor (e.g., ebnerin and other members of the hydrophobic carrier family); G proteins; kinases (e.g., homologs of rhodopsin kinase and beta adrenergic receptor kinases that are involved in deactivation and desensitization of a receptor); and arresting, which also deactivate and desensitize receptors. Modulators can include genetically modified versions of T1R family members, e.g., with altered activity, as well as naturally occurring and synthetic ligands, antagonists, agonists, small chemical molecules and the like. Such assays for inhibitors and activators include, e.g., expressing T1R family members in cells or cell membranes, applying putative modulator compounds, in the presence or absence of tastants, e.g., sweet tastants, and then determining the functional effects on taste transduction, as described above. Samples or assays comprising T1R family members that are treated with a potential activator, inhibitor, or modulator are compared to control samples without the inhibitor, activator, or modulator to examine the extent of modulation. Control samples (untreated with modulators) are assigned a relative T1R activity value of 100%. Inhibition of a T1R is achieved when the T1R activity value relative to the control is about 80%, optionally 50% or 25-0%. Activation of a T1R is achieved when the T1R activity value relative to the control is 110%, optionally 150%, optionally 200-500%, or 1000-3000% higher.

The terms “purified,” “substantially purified,” and “isolated” as used herein refer to the state of being free of other, dissimilar compounds with which the compound of the invention is normally associated in its natural state, so that the “purified,” “substantially purified,” and “isolated” subject comprises at least 0.5%, 1%, 5%, 10%, or 20%, and most preferably at least 50% or 75% of the mass, by weight, of a given sample. In one preferred embodiment, these terms refer to the compound of the invention comprising at least 95% of the mass, by weight, of a given sample. As used herein, the terms “purified,” “substantially purified,” and “isolated” “isolated,” when referring to a nucleic acid or protein, of nucleic acids or proteins, also refers to a state of purification or concentration different than that which occurs naturally in the mammalian, especially human, body. Any degree of purification or concentration greater than that which occurs naturally in the mammalian, especially human, body, including (1) the purification from other associated structures or compounds or (2) the association with structures or compounds to which it is not normally associated in the mammalian, especially human, body, are within the meaning of “isolated.” The nucleic acid or protein or classes of nucleic acids or proteins, described herein, may be isolated, or otherwise associated with structures or compounds to which they are not normally associated in nature, according to a variety of methods and processes known to those of skill in the art.

As used herein, the term “isolated,” when referring to a nucleic acid or polypeptide refers to a state of purification or concentration different than that which occurs naturally in the mammalian, especially human, body. Any degree of purification or concentration greater than that which occurs naturally in the body, including (1) the purification from other naturally-occurring associated structures or compounds, or (2) the association with structures or compounds to which it is not normally associated in the body are within the meaning of “isolated” as used herein. The nucleic acids or polypeptides described herein may be isolated or otherwise associated with structures or compounds to which they are not normally associated in nature, according to a variety of methods and processed known to those of skill in the art.

As used herein, the terms “amplifying” and “amplification” refer to the use of any suitable amplification methodology for generating or detecting recombinant or naturally expressed nucleic acid, as described in detail, below. For example, the invention provides methods and reagents (e.g., specific degenerate oligonucleotide primer pairs) for amplifying (e.g., by polymerase chain reaction, PCR) naturally expressed (e.g., genomic or mRNA) or recombinant (e.g., cDNA) nucleic acids of the invention (e.g., tastant-binding sequences of the invention) in vivo or in vitro.

The term “7-transmembrane receptor” means a polypeptide belonging to a superfamily of transmembrane proteins that have seven domains that span the plasma membrane seven times (thus, the seven domains are called “transmembrane” or “TM” domains TM I to TM VII). The families of olfactory and certain taste receptors each belong to this super-family. 7-transmembrane receptor polypeptides have similar and characteristic primary, secondary and tertiary structures, as discussed in further detail below.

The term “library” means a preparation that is a mixture of different nucleic acid or polypeptide molecules, such as the library of recombinantly generated chemosensory, particularly taste receptor ligand-binding domains generated by amplification of nucleic acid with degenerate primer pairs, or an isolated collection of vectors that incorporate the amplified ligand-binding domains, or a mixture of cells each randomly transfected with at least one vector encoding an taste receptor.

The term “nucleic acid” or “nucleic acid sequence” refers to a deoxy-ribonucleotide or ribonucleotide oligonucleotide in either single- or double-stranded form. The term encompasses nucleic acids, i.e., oligonucleotides, containing known analogs of natural nucleotides. The term also encompasses nucleic-acid-like structures with synthetic backbones (see e.g., Oligonucleotides and Analogues, a Practical Approach, ed. F. Eckstein, Oxford Univ. Press (1991); Antisense Strategies, Annals of the N.Y. Academy of Sciences, Vol. 600, Eds. Baserga et al. (NYAS 1992); Milligan J Med. Chem. 36:1923-1937 (1993); Antisense Research and Applications (1993, CRC Press), WO 97/03211; WO 96/39154; Mata, Toxicol. Appl. Pharmacol. 144:189-197 (1997); Strauss-Soukup, Biochemistry 36:8692-8698 (1997); Samstag, Antisense Nucleic Acid Drug Dev, 6:153-156 (1996)).

Unless otherwise indicated, a particular nucleic acid sequence also implicitly encompasses conservatively modified variants thereof (e.g., degenerate codon substitutions) and complementary sequences, as well as the sequence explicitly indicated. Specifically, degenerate codon substitutions may be achieved by generating, e.g., sequences in which the third position of one or more selected codons is substituted with mixed-base and/or deoxyinosine residues (Batzer et al., Nucleic Acid Res., 19:5081 (1991); Ohtsuka et al., J. Biol. Chem., 260:2605-2608 (1985); Rossolini et al, Mol. Cell. Probes, 8:91-98 (1994)). The term nucleic acid is used interchangeably with gene, cDNA, mRNA, oligonucleotide, and polynucleotide.

The terms “polypeptide,” “peptide” and “protein” are used interchangeably herein to refer to a polymer of amino acid residues. The terms apply to amino acid polymers in which one or more amino acid residue is an artificial chemical mimetic of a corresponding naturally occurring amino acid, as well as to naturally occurring amino acid polymers and non-naturally occurring amino acid polymer.

The term “plasma membrane translocation domain” or simply “translocation domain” means a polypeptide domain that, when incorporated into the amino terminus of a polypeptide coding sequence, can with great efficiency “chaperone” or “translocate” the hybrid (“fusion”) protein to the cell plasma membrane. For instance, a “translocation domain” may be derived from the amino terminus of the bovine rhodopsin receptor polypeptide, a 7-transmembrane receptor. However, rhodopsin from any mammal may be used, as can other translocation facilitating sequences. Thus, the translocation domain is particularly efficient in translocating 7-transmembrane fusion proteins to the plasma membrane, and a protein (e.g., a taste receptor polypeptide) comprising an amino terminal translocating domain will be transported to the plasma membrane more efficiently than without the domain. However, if the N-terminal domain of the polypeptide is active in binding, the use of other translocation domains may be preferred.

The “translocation domain,” “ligand-binding domain”, and chimeric receptors compositions described herein also include “analogs,” or “conservative variants” and “mimetics” (“peptidomimetics”) with structures and activity that substantially correspond to the exemplary sequences. Thus, the terms “conservative variant” or “analog” or “mimetic” refer to a polypeptide which has a modified amino acid sequence, such that the change(s) do not substantially alter the polypeptide's (the conservative variant's) structure and/or activity, as defined herein. These include conservatively modified variations of an amino acid sequence, i.e., amino acid substitutions, additions or deletions of those residues that are not critical for protein activity, or substitution of amino acids with residues having similar properties (e.g., acidic, basic, positively or negatively charged, polar or non-polar, etc.) such that the substitutions of even critical amino acids does not substantially alter structure and/or activity.

More particularly, “conservatively modified variants” applies to both amino acid and nucleic acid sequences. With respect to particular nucleic acid sequences, conservatively modified variants refers to those nucleic acids which encode identical or essentially identical amino acid sequences, or where the nucleic acid does not encode an amino acid sequence, to essentially identical sequences. Because of the degeneracy of the genetic code, a large number of functionally identical nucleic acids encode any given protein.

For instance, the codons GCA, GCC, GCG and GCU all encode the amino acid alanine. Thus, at every position where an alanine is specified by a codon, the codon can be altered to any of the corresponding codons described without altering the encoded polypeptide.

Such nucleic acid variations are “silent variations,” which are one species of conservatively modified variations. Every nucleic acid sequence herein which encodes a polypeptide also describes every possible silent variation of the nucleic acid. One of skill will recognize that each codon in a nucleic acid (except AUG, which is ordinarily the only codon for methionine, and TGG, which is ordinarily the only codon for tryptophan) can be modified to yield a functionally identical molecule. Accordingly, each silent variation of a nucleic acid which encodes a polypeptide is implicit in each described sequence.

Conservative substitution tables providing functionally similar amino acids are well known in the art. For example, one exemplary guideline to select conservative substitutions includes (original residue followed by exemplary substitution): ala/gly or ser; arg/lys; asn/gln or his; asp/glu; cys/ser; gln/asn; gly/asp; gly/ala or pro; his/asn or gln; ile/leu or val; leu/ile or val; lys/arg or gln or glu; met/leu or tyr or ile; phe/met or leu or tyr; ser/thr; thr/ser; trp/tyr; tyr/trp or phe; val/ile or leu. An alternative exemplary guideline uses the following six groups, each containing amino acids that are conservative substitutions for one another: 1) Alanine (A), Serine (S), Threonine (T); 2) Aspartic acid (D), Glutamic acid (E); 3) Asparagine (N), Glutamine (Q); 4) Arginine (R), Lysine (I); 5) Isoleucine (I), Leucine (L), Methionine (M), Valine (V); and 6) Phenylalanine (F), Tyrosine (Y), Tryptophan (W); (see also, e.g., Creighton, Proteins, W.H. Freeman and Company (1984); Schultz and Schimer, Principles of Protein Structure, Springer-Vrlag (1979)). One of skill in the art will appreciate that the above-identified substitutions are not the only possible conservative substitutions. For example, for some purposes, one may regard all charged amino acids as conservative substitutions for each other whether they are positive or negative. In addition, individual substitutions, deletions or additions that alter, add or delete a single amino acid or a small percentage of amino acids in an encoded sequence can also be considered “conservatively modified variations.” The terms “mimetic” and “peptidomimetic” refer to a synthetic chemical compound that has substantially the same structural and/or functional characteristics of the polypeptides, e.g., translocation domains, ligand-binding domains, or chimeric receptors of the invention. The mimetic can be either entirely composed of synthetic, non-natural analogs of amino acids, or may be a chimeric molecule of partly natural peptide amino acids and partly non-natural analogs of amino acids. The mimetic can also incorporate any amount of natural amino acid conservative substitutions as long as such substitutions also do not substantially alter the mimetic's structure and/or activity.

As with polypeptides of the invention which are conservative variants, routine experimentation will determine whether a mimetic is within the scope of the invention, i.e., that its structure and/or function is not substantially altered. Polypeptide mimetic compositions can contain any combination of non-natural structural components, which are typically from three structural groups: a) residue linkage groups other than the natural amide bond (“peptide bond”) linkages; b) non-natural residues in place of naturally occurring amino acid residues; or c) residues which induce secondary structural mimicry, i.e., to induce or stabilize a secondary structure, e.g., a beta turn, gamma turn, beta sheet, alpha helix conformation, and the like. A polypeptide can be characterized as a mimetic when all or some of its residues are joined by chemical means other than natural peptide bonds. Individual peptidomimetic residues can be joined by peptide bonds, other chemical bonds or coupling means, such as, e.g., glutaraldehyde, N-hydroxysuccinimide esters, bifunctional maleimides, N,N′-dicyclohexylcarbodiimide (DCC) or N,N′-diisopropylcarbodiimide (DIC). Linking groups that can be an alternative to the traditional amide bond (“peptide bond”) linkages include, e.g., ketomethylene (e.g., —C(.dbd.O)—CH.sub.2- for —C(.dbd.O)—NH—), aminomethylene (CH.sub.2-NH), ethylene, olefin (CH.dbd.CH), ether (CH.sub.2-O), thioether (CH.sub.2-S), tetrazole (CN.sub.4), thiazole, retroamide, thioamide, or ester (see, e.g., Spatola, Chemistry and Biochemistry of Amino Acids, Peptides and Proteins, Vol. 7, pp 267-357, “Peptide Backbone Modifications,” Marcell Dekker, N.Y. (1983)). A polypeptide can also be characterized as a mimetic by containing all or some non-natural residues in place of naturally occurring amino acid residues; non-natural residues are well described in the scientific and Patent literature.

A “label” or a “detectable moiety” is a composition detectable by spectroscopic, photochemical, biochemical, immunochemical, or chemical means. For example, useful labels include .sup.32P, fluorescent dyes, electron-dense reagents, enzymes (e.g., as commonly used in an ELISA), biotin, digoxigenin, or haptens and proteins which can be made detectable, e.g., by incorporating a radiolabel into the peptide or used to detect antibodies specifically reactive with the peptide.

A “labeled nucleic acid probe or oligonucleotide” is one that is bound, either covalently, through a linker or a chemical bond, or noncovalently, through ionic, van der Waals, electrostatic, or hydrogen bonds to a label such that the presence of the probe may be detected by detecting the presence of the label bound to the probe.

As used herein a “nucleic acid probe or oligonucleotide” is defined as a nucleic acid capable of binding to a target nucleic acid of complementary sequence through one or more types of chemical bonds, usually through complementary base pairing, usually through hydrogen bond formation. As used herein, a probe may include natural (i.e., A, G, C, or T) or modified bases (7-deazaguanosine, inosine, etc.). In addition, the bases in a probe may be joined by a linkage other than a phosphodiester bond, so long as it does not interfere with hybridization. Thus, for example, probes may be peptide nucleic acids in which the constituent bases are joined by peptide bonds rather than phosphodiester linkages. It will be understood by one of skill in the art that probes may bind target sequences lacking complete complementarity with the probe sequence depending upon the stringency of the hybridization conditions. The probes are optionally directly labeled as with isotopes, chromophores, lumiphores, chromogens, or indirectly labeled such as with biotin to which a streptavidin complex may later bind. By assaying for the presence or absence of the probe, one can detect the presence or absence of the select sequence or subsequence.

The term “heterologous” when used with reference to portions of a nucleic acid indicates that the nucleic acid comprises two or more subsequences that are not found in the same relationship to each other in nature. For instance, the nucleic acid is typically recombinantly produced, having two or more sequences from unrelated genes arranged to make a new functional nucleic acid, e.g., a promoter from one source and a coding region from another source. Similarly, a heterologous protein indicates that the protein comprises two or more subsequences that are not found in the same relationship to each other in nature (e.g., a fusion protein).

A “promoter” is defined as an array of nucleic acid sequences that direct transcription of a nucleic acid. As used herein, a promoter includes necessary nucleic acid sequences near the start site of transcription, such as, in the case of a polymerase II type promoter, a TATA element. A promoter also optionally includes distal enhancer or repressor elements, which can be located as much as several thousand base pairs from the start site of transcription. A “constitutive” promoter is a promoter that is active under most environmental and developmental conditions. An “inducible” promoter is a promoter that is active under environmental or developmental regulation. The term “operably linked” refers to a functional linkage between a nucleic acid expression control sequence (such as a promoter, or array of transcription factor binding sites) and a second nucleic acid sequence, wherein the expression control sequence directs transcription of the nucleic acid corresponding to the second sequence.

As used herein, “recombinant” refers to a polynucleotide synthesized or otherwise manipulated in vitro (e.g., “recombinant polynucleotide”), to methods of using recombinant polynucleotides to produce gene products in cells or other biological systems, or to a polypeptide (“recombinant protein”) encoded by a recombinant polynucleotide. “Recombinant means” also encompass the ligation of nucleic acids having various coding regions or domains or promoter sequences from different sources into an expression cassette or vector for expression of, e.g., inducible or constitutive expression of a fusion protein comprising a translocation domain of the invention and a nucleic acid sequence amplified using a primer of the invention.

The phrase “selectively (or specifically) hybridizes to” refers to the binding, duplexing, or hybridizing of a molecule only to a particular nucleotide sequence under stringent hybridization conditions when that sequence is present in a complex mixture (e.g., total cellular or library DNA or RNA).

The phrase “stringent hybridization conditions” refers to conditions under which a probe will hybridize to its target subsequence, typically in a complex mixture of nucleic acid, but to no other sequences. Stringent conditions are sequence-dependent and will be different in different circumstances. Longer sequences hybridize specifically at higher temperatures. An extensive guide to the hybridization of nucleic acids is found in Tijssen, Techniques in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology—Hybridisation with Nucleic Probes, “Overview of principles of hybridization and the strategy of nucleic acid assays” (1993). Generally, stringent conditions are selected to be about 5-10.degree. C. lower than the thermal melting point (Tm) for the specific sequence at a defined ionic strength pH. The Tm is the temperature (under defined ionic strength, pH, and nucleic concentration) at which 50% of the probes complementary to the target hybridize to the target sequence at equilibrium (as the target sequences are present in excess, at Tm, 50% of the probes are occupied at equilibrium). Stringent conditions will be those in which the salt concentration is less than about 1.0 M sodium ion, typically about 0.01 to 1.0 M sodium ion concentration (or other salts) at pH 7.0 to 8.3 and the temperature is at least about 30.degree. C. for short probes (e.g., 10 to 50 nucleotides) and at least about 60.degree. C. for long probes (e.g., greater than 50 nucleotides). Stringent conditions may also be achieved with the addition of destabilizing agents such as formamide. For selective or specific hybridization, a positive signal is at least two times background, optionally 10 times background hybridization. Exemplary stringent hybridization conditions can be as following: 50% formamide, 5.times. SSC, and 1% SDS, incubating at 42.degree. C., or, 5.times. SSC, 1% SDS, incubating at 65.degree. C., with wash in 0.2.times. SSC, and 0.1% SDS at 65.degree. C. Such hybridizations and wash steps can be carried out for, e.g., 1, 2, 5, 10, 15, 30, 60; or more minutes.

Nucleic acids that do not hybridize to each other under stringent conditions are still substantially related if the polypeptides which they encode are substantially related. This occurs, for example, when a copy of a nucleic acid is created using the maximum codon degeneracy permitted by the genetic code. In such cases, the nucleic acids typically hybridize under moderately stringent hybridization conditions. Exemplary “moderately stringent hybridization conditions” include a hybridization in a buffer of 40% formamide, 1 M NaCl, 1% SDS at 37.degree. C., and a wash in 1.times. SSC at 45.degree. C. Such hybridizations and wash steps can be carried out for, e.g., 1, 2, 5, 10, 15, 30, 60, or more minutes. A positive hybridization is at least twice background. Those of ordinary skill will readily recognize that alternative hybridization and wash conditions can be utilized to provide conditions of similar stringency.

“Antibody” refers to a polypeptide comprising a framework region from an immunoglobulin gene or fragments thereof that specifically binds and recognizes an antigen. The recognized immunoglobulin genes include the kappa, lambda, alpha, gamma, delta, epsilon, and mu constant region genes, as well as the myriad immunoglobulin variable region genes. Light chains are classified as either kappa or lambda. Heavy chains are classified as gamma, mu, alpha, delta, or epsilon, which in turn define the immunoglobulin classes, IgG, IgM, IgA, IgD and IgE, respectively.

An exemplary immunoglobulin (antibody) structural unit comprises a tetramer. Each tetramer is composed of two identical pairs of polypeptide chains, each pair having one “light” (about 25 kDa) and one “heavy” chain (about 50-70 kDa). The N-terminus of each chain defines a variable region of about 100 to 110 or more amino acids primarily responsible for antigen recognition. The terms variable light chain (VL) and variable heavy chain (VH) refer to these light and heavy chains respectively.

A “chimeric antibody” is an antibody molecule in which (a) the constant region, or a portion thereof, is altered, replaced or exchanged so that the antigen binding site (variable region) is linked to a constant region of a different or altered class, effector function and/or species, or an entirely different molecule which confers new properties to the chimeric antibody, e.g., an enzyme, toxin, hormone, growth factor, drug, etc.; or (b) the variable region, or a portion thereof, is altered, replaced or exchanged with a variable region having a different or altered antigen specificity.

An “anti-T1R” antibody is an antibody or antibody fragment that specifically binds a polypeptide encoded by a T1R gene, cDNA, or a subsequence thereof.

The term “immunoassay” is an assay that uses an antibody to specifically bind an antigen. The immunoassay is characterized by the use of specific binding properties of a particular antibody to isolate, target, and/or quantify the antigen.

The phrase “specifically (or selectively) binds” to an antibody or, “specifically (or selectively) immunoreactive with,” when referring to a protein or peptide, refers to a binding reaction that is determinative of the presence of the protein in a heterogeneous population of proteins and other biologics. Thus, under designated immunoassay conditions, the specified antibodies bind to a particular protein at least two times the background and do not substantially bind in a significant amount to other proteins present in the sample. Specific binding to an antibody under such conditions may require an antibody that is selected for its specificity for a particular protein. For example, polyclonal antibodies raised to a T1R family member from specific species such as rat, mouse, or human can be selected to obtain only those polyclonal antibodies that are specifically immunoreactive with the T1R polypeptide or an immunogenic portion thereof and not with other proteins, except for orthologs or polymorphic variants and alleles of the T1R polypeptide. This selection may be achieved by subtracting out antibodies that cross-react with T1R molecules from other species or other T1R molecules. Antibodies can also be selected that recognize only T1R GPCR family members but not GPCRs from other families. A variety of immunoassay formats may be used to select antibodies specifically immunoreactive with a particular protein. For example, solid-phase ELISA immunoassays are routinely used to select antibodies specifically immunoreactive with a protein (see, e.g., Harlow & Lane, Antibodies, A Laboratory Manual, (1988), for a description of immunoassay formats and conditions that can be used to determine specific immunoreactivity). Typically a specific or selective reaction will be at least twice background signal or noise and more typically more than 10 to 100 times background.

The phrase “selectively associates with” refers to the ability of a nucleic acid to “selectively hybridize” with another as defined above, or the ability of an antibody to “selectively (or specifically) bind to a protein, as defined above.

The term “expression vector” refers to any recombinant expression system for the purpose of expressing a nucleic acid sequence of the invention in vitro or in vivo, constitutively or inducibly, in any cell, including prokaryotic, yeast, fungal, plant, insect or mammalian cell. The term includes linear or circular expression systems. The term includes expression systems that remain episomal or integrate into the host cell genome. The expression systems can have the ability to self-replicate or not, i.e., drive only transient expression in a cell. The term includes recombinant expression “cassettes which contain only the minimum elements needed for transcription of the recombinant nucleic acid.

By “host cell” is meant a cell that contains an expression vector and supports the replication or expression of the expression vector. Host cells may be prokaryotic cells such as E. toll, or eukaryotic cells such as yeast, insect, amphibian, or mammalian cells such as CHO, HeLa, HEK-293, and the like, e.g., cultured cells, explants, and cells in vivo.

C. Isolation and Expression of T1R Polypeptides

Isolation and expression of the T1Rs, or fragments or variants thereof, of the invention can be performed as described below. PCR primers can be used for the amplification of nucleic acids encoding taste receptor ligand-binding regions, and libraries of these nucleic acids can optionally be generated. Individual expression vectors or libraries of expression vectors can then be used to infect or transfect host cells for the functional expression of these nucleic acids or libraries. These genes and vectors can be made and expressed in vitro or in vivo. One of skill will recognize that desired phenotypes for altering and controlling nucleic acid expression can be obtained by modulating the expression or activity of the genes and nucleic acids (e.g., promoters, enhancers and the like) within the vectors of the invention. Any of the known methods described for increasing or decreasing expression or activity can be used. The invention can be practiced in conjunction with any method or protocol known in the art, which are well described in the scientific and Patent literature.

The nucleic acid sequences of the invention and other nucleic acids used to practice this invention, whether RNA, cDNA, genomic DNA, vectors, viruses or hybrids thereof, may be isolated from a variety of sources, genetically engineered, amplified, and/or expressed recombinantly. Any recombinant expression system can be used, including, in addition to mammalian cells, e.g., bacterial, yeast, insect, or plant systems.

Alternatively, these nucleic acids can be synthesized in vitro by well-known chemical synthesis techniques, as described in, e.g., Carruthers, Cold Spring Harbor Symp. Quant. Biol. 47:411-418 (1982); Adams, Am. Chem. Soc. 105:661 (1983); Belousov, Nucleic Acids Res. 25:3440-3444 (1997); Frenkel, Free Radic. Biol. Med. 19:373-380 (1995); Blommers, Biochemistry 33:7886-7896 (1994); Narang, Meth. Enzymol. 68:90 (1979); Brown, Meth. Enzymol. 68:109 (1979); Beaucage, Tetra. Lett. 22:1859 (1981); U.S. Pat. No. 4,458,066. Double-stranded DNA fragments may then be obtained either by synthesizing the complementary strand and annealing the strands together under appropriate conditions, or by adding the complementary strand using DNA polymerase with an appropriate primer sequence.

Techniques for the manipulation of nucleic acids, such as, for example, for generating mutations in sequences, subcloning, labeling probes, sequencing, hybridization and the like are well described in the scientific and Patent literature. See, e.g., Sambrook, ed., Molecular Cloning: a Laboratory manual (2nd ed.), Vols. 1-3, Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory (1989); Current Protocols in Molecular Biology, Ausubel, ed. John Wiley & Sons, Inc., New York (1997); Laboratory Techniques in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology. Hybridization With Nucleic Acid Probes, Part I, Theory and Nucleic Acid Preparation, Tijssen, ed. Elsevier, N.Y. (1993).

Nucleic acids, vectors, capsids, polypeptides, and the like can be analyzed and quantified by any of a number of general means well known to those of skill in the art. These include, e.g., analytical biochemical methods such as NMR, spectrophotometry, radiography, electrophoresis, capillary electrophoresis, high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), thin layer chromatography (TLC), and hyperdiffusion chromatography, various immunological methods, e.g., fluid or gel precipitin reactions, immunodiffusion, immunoelectrophoresis, radioimmunoassays (RIAs), enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISAs), immuno-fluorescent assays, Southern analysis, Northern analysis, dot-blot analysis, gel electrophoresis (e.g., SDS-PAGE), RT-PCR, quantitative PCR, other nucleic acid or target or signal amplification methods, radiolabeling, scintillation counting, and affinity chromatography.

Oligonucleotide primers may be used to amplify nucleic acid fragments encoding taste receptor ligand-binding regions. The nucleic acids described herein can also be cloned or measured quantitatively using amplification techniques. Amplification methods are also well known in the art, and include, e.g., polymerase chain reaction, PCR (PCR Protocols, a Guide to Methods and Applications, ed. Innis. Academic Press, N.Y. (1990) and PCR Strategies, ed. Innis, Academic Press, Inc., N.Y. (1995), ligase chain reaction (LCR) (see, e.g., Wu, Genomics 4:560 (1989); Landegren, Science 241:1077, (1988); Barringer, Gene 89:117 (1990)); transcription amplification (see, e.g., Kwoh, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 86:1173 (1989)); and, self-sustained sequence replication (see, e.g., Guatelli, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 87:1874 (1990)); Q Beta replicase amplification (see, e.g., Smith, J. Clin. Microbiol. 35:1477-1491 (1997)); automated Q-beta replicase amplification assay (see, e.g., Burg, Mol. Cell. Probes 10:257-271 (1996)) and other RNA polymerase mediated techniques (e.g., NASBA, Cangene, Mississauga, Ontario); see also Berger, Methods Enzymol. 152:307-316 (1987); Sambrook; Ausubel; U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,683,195 and 4,683,202; Sooknanan, Biotechnology 13:563-564 (1995). The primers can be designed to retain the original sequence of the “donor” 7-membrane receptor. Alternatively, the primers can encode amino acid residues that are conservative substitutions (e.g., hydrophobic for hydrophobic residue, see above discussion) or functionally benign substitutions (e.g., do not prevent plasma membrane insertion, cause cleavage by peptidase, cause abnormal folding of receptor, and the like). Once amplified, the nucleic acids, either individually or as libraries, may be cloned according to methods known in the art, if desired, into any of a variety of vectors using routine molecular biological methods; methods for cloning in vitro amplified nucleic acids are described, e.g., U.S. Pat. No. 5,426,039.

The primer pairs may be designed to selectively amplify ligand-binding regions of the T1R family members. These regions may vary for different ligands or tastants. Thus, what may be a minimal binding region for one tastant, may be too limiting for a second tastant. Accordingly, ligand-binding regions of different sizes comprising different extracellular domain structures may be amplified.

Paradigms to design degenerate primer pairs are well known in the art. For example, a COnsensus-DEgenerate Hybrid Oligonucleotide Primer (CODEHOP) strategy computer program is accessible as http://blocks.fhcrc.org/codehop.html, and is directly linked from the BlockMaker multiple sequence alignment site for hybrid primer prediction beginning with a set of related protein sequences, as known taste receptor ligand-binding regions (see, e.g., Rose, Nucleic Acids Res. 26:1628-1635 (1998); Singh, Biotechniques 24:318-319 (1998)).

Means to synthesize oligonucleotide primer pairs are well known in the art. “Natural” base pairs or synthetic base pairs can be used. For example, use of artificial nucleobases offers a versatile approach to manipulate primer sequence and generate a more complex mixture of amplification products. Various families of artificial nucleobases are capable of assuming multiple hydrogen bonding orientations through internal bond rotations to provide a means for degenerate molecular recognition. Incorporation of these analogs into a single position of a PCR primer allows for generation of a complex library of amplification products. See, e.g., Hoops, Nucleic Acids Res. 25:4866-4871 (1997). Nonpolar molecules can also be used to mimic the shape of natural DNA bases. A non-hydrogen-bonding shape mimic for adenine can replicate efficiently and selectively against a nonpolar shape mimic for thymine (see, e.g., Morales, Nat. Struct. Biol. 5:950-954 (1998)). For example, two degenerate bases can be the pyrimidine base 6H, 8H-3,4-dihydropyrimido[4,5-c][1,2]oxazin-7-one or the purine base N6-methoxy-2,6-diaminopurine (see, e.g., Hill, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 95:4258-4263 (1998)). Exemplary degenerate primers of the invention incorporate the nucleobase analog 5′-Dimethoxytrityl-N-benzoyl-2′-deoxy-Cytidine,3′-[(2-cyanoethyl)-(N,N-di-isopropyl)]-phosphoramidite (the term “P” in the sequences, see above). This pyrimidine analog hydrogen bonds with purines, including A and G residues.

Polymorphic variants, alleles, and interspecies homologs that are substantially 116 identical to a taste receptor disclosed herein can be isolated using the nucleic acid probes described above. Alternatively, expression libraries can be used to clone T1R polypeptides and polymorphic variants, alleles, and interspecies homologs thereof, by detecting expressed homologs immunologically with antisera or purified antibodies made against a T1R polypeptide, which also recognize and selectively bind to the T1R homolog.

Nucleic acids that encode ligand-binding regions of taste receptors may be generated by amplification (e.g., PCR) of appropriate nucleic acid sequences using degenerate primer pairs. The amplified nucleic acid can be genomic DNA from any cell or tissue or mRNA or cDNA derived from taste receptor-expressing cells.

In one embodiment, hybrid protein-coding sequences comprising nucleic acids encoding T1Rs fused to a translocation sequences may be constructed. Also provided are hybrid T1Rs comprising the translocation motifs and tastant-binding domains of other families of chemosensory receptors, particularly taste receptors. These nucleic acid sequences can be operably linked to transcriptional or translational control elements, e.g., transcription and translation initiation sequences, promoters and enhancers, transcription and translation terminators, polyadenylation sequences, and other sequences useful for transcribing DNA into RNA. In construction of recombinant expression cassettes, vectors, and transgenics, a promoter fragment can be employed to direct expression of the desired nucleic acid in all desired cells or tissues.

In another embodiment, fusion proteins may include C-terminal or N-terminal translocation sequences. Further, fusion proteins can comprise additional elements, e.g., for protein detection, purification, or other applications. Detection and purification facilitating domains include, e.g., metal chelating peptides such as polyhistidine tracts, histidine-tryptophan modules, or other domains that allow purification on immobilized metals; maltose binding protein; protein A domains that allow purification on immobilized immunoglobulin; or the domain utilized in the FLAGS extension/affinity purification system (Immunex Corp, Seattle Wash.).

The inclusion of a cleavable linker sequences such as Factor Xa (see, e.g., Ottavi, Biochimie 80:289-293 (1998)), subtilisin protease recognition motif (see, e.g., Polyak, Protein Eng. 10:615-619 (1997)); enterokinase (Invitrogen, San Diego, Calif.), and the like, between the translocation domain (for efficient plasma membrane expression) and the rest of the newly translated polypeptide may be useful to facilitate purification. For example, one construct can include a polypeptide encoding a nucleic acid sequence linked to six histidine residues followed by a thioredoxin, an enterokinase cleavage site (see, e.g., Williams, Biochemistry 34:1787-1797 (1995)), and an C-terminal translocation domain. The histidine residues facilitate detection and purification while the enterokinase cleavage site provides a means for purifying the desired protein(s) from the remainder of the fusion protein. Technology pertaining to vectors encoding fusion proteins and application of fusion proteins are well described in the scientific and Patent literature, see, e.g., Kroll, DNA Cell. Biol. 12:441-53 (1993).

Expression vectors, either as individual expression vectors or as libraries of expression vectors, comprising the ligand-binding domain encoding sequences may be introduced into a genome or into the cytoplasm or a nucleus of a cell and expressed by a variety of conventional techniques, well described in the scientific and Patent literature. See, e.g., Roberts, Nature 328:731 (1987); Berger supra; Schneider, Protein Expr. Purif. 6435:10 (1995); Sambrook; Tijssen; Ausubel. Product information from manufacturers of biological reagents and experimental equipment also provide information regarding known biological methods. The vectors can be isolated from natural sources, obtained from such sources as ATCC or GenBank libraries, or prepared by synthetic or recombinant methods.

The nucleic acids can be expressed in expression cassettes, vectors or viruses which are stably or transiently expressed in cells (e.g., episomal expression systems). Selection markers can be incorporated into expression cassettes and vectors to confer a selectable phenotype on transformed cells and sequences. For example, selection markers can code for episomal maintenance and replication such that integration into the host genome is not required. For example, the marker may encode antibiotic resistance (e.g., chloramphenicol, kanamycin, G418, bleomycin, hygromycin) or herbicide resistance (e.g., chlorosulfuron or Basta) to permit selection of those cells transformed with the desired DNA sequences (see, e.g., Blondelet-Rouault, Gene 190:315-317 (1997); Aubrecht, J. Pharmacol. Exp. Ther. 281:992-997 (1997)). Because selectable marker genes conferring resistance to substrates like neomycin or hygromycin can only be utilized in tissue culture, chemoresistance genes are also used as selectable markers in vitro and in vivo.

A chimeric nucleic acid sequence may encode a T1R ligand-binding domain within any 7-transmembrane polypeptide. Because 7-transmembrane receptor polypeptides have similar primary sequences and secondary and tertiary structures, structural domains (e.g., extracellular domain, TM domains, cytoplasmic domain, etc.) can be readily identified by sequence analysis. For example, homology modeling, Fourier analysis and helical periodicity detection can identify and characterize the seven domains with a 7-transmembrane receptor sequence. Fast Fourier Transform (FFT) algorithms can be used to assess the dominant periods that characterize profiles of the hydrophobicity and variability of analyzed sequences. Periodicity detection enhancement and alpha helical periodicity index can be done as by, e.g., Donnelly, Protein Sci. 2:55-70 (1993). Other alignment and modeling algorithms are well known in the art, see, e.g., Peitsch, Receptors Channels 4:161-164 (1996); Kyte & Doolittle, J. Md. Bio., 157:105-132 (1982); Cronet, Protein Eng. 6:59-64 (1993) (homology and “discover modeling”); http://bioinfo.weizmann.ac.il/.

The present invention also includes not only the DNA and proteins having the specified nucleic and amino acid sequences, but also DNA fragments, particularly fragments of, e.g., 40, 60, 80, 100, 150, 200, or 250 nucleotides, or more, as well as protein fragments of, e.g., 10, 20, 30, 50, 70, 100, or 150 amino acids, or more. Optionally, the nucleic acid fragments can encode an antigenic polypeptide which is capable of binding to an antibody raised against a T1R family member. Further, a protein fragment of the invention can optionally be an antigenic fragment which is capable of binding to an antibody raised against a T1R family member.

Also contemplated are chimeric proteins, comprising at least 10, 20, 30, 50, 70, 100, or 150 amino acids, or more, of one of at least one of the T1R polypeptides described herein, coupled to additional amino acids representing all or part of another GPCR, preferably a member of the 7 transmembrane superfamily. These chimeras can be made from the instant receptors and another GPCR, or they can be made by combining two or more of the present receptors. In one embodiment, one portion of the chimera corresponds tom or is derived from the extracellular domain of a T1R polypeptide of the invention. In another embodiment, one portion of the chimera corresponds to, or is derived from the extracellular domain and one or more of the transmembrane domains of a T1R polypeptide described herein, and the remaining portion or portions can come from another GPCR. Chimeric receptors are well known in the art, and the techniques for creating them and the selection and boundaries of domains or fragments of G protein-coupled receptors for incorporation therein are also well known. Thus, this knowledge of those skilled in the art can readily be used to create such chimeric receptors. The use of such chimeric receptors can provide, for example, a taste selectivity characteristic of one of the receptors specifically disclosed herein, coupled with the signal transduction characteristics of another receptor, such as a well known receptor used in prior art assay systems.

For example, a domain such as a ligand-binding domain, an extracellular domain, a transmembrane domain, a transmembrane domain, a cytoplasmic domain, an N-terminal domain, a C-terminal domain, or any combination thereof, can be covalently linked to a heterologous protein. For instance, an T1R extracellular domain can be linked to a heterologous GPCR transmembrane domain, or a heterologous GPCR extracellular domain can be linked to a T1R transmembrane domain. Other heterologous proteins of choice can include, e.g., green fluorescent protein, .beta.-gal, glutamtate receptor, and the rhodopsin presequence.

Also within the scope of the invention are host cells for expressing the T1Rs, fragments, or variants of the invention. To obtain high levels of expression of a cloned gene or nucleic acid, such as cDNAs encoding the T1Rs, fragments, or variants of the invention, one of skill typically subclones the nucleic acid sequence of interest into an expression vector that contains a strong promoter to direct transcription, a transcription/translation terminator, and if for a nucleic acid encoding a protein, a ribosome binding site for translational initiation. Suitable bacterial promoters are well known in the art and described, e.g., in Sambrook et al. However, bacterial or eukaryotic expression systems can be used.

Any of the well known procedures for introducing foreign nucleotide sequences into host cells may be used. These include the use of calcium phosphate transfection, polybrene, protoplast fusion, electroporation, liposomes, microinjection, plasma vectors, viral vectors and any of the other well known methods for introducing cloned genomic DNA, cDNA, synthetic DNA or other foreign genetic material into a host cell (see, e.g., Sambrook et al.) It is only necessary that the particular genetic engineering procedure used be capable of successfully introducing at lest one nucleic acid molecule into the host cell capable of expressing the T1R, fragment, or variant of interest.

After the expression vector is introduced into the cells, the transfected cells are cultured under conditions favoring expression of the receptor, fragment, or variant of interest, which is then recovered from the culture using standard techniques. Examples of such techniques are well known in the art. See, e.g., WO 00/06593, which is incorporated by reference in a manner consistent with this disclosure.

D. Detection of T1R Polypeptides

In addition to the detection of T1R genes and gene expression using nucleic acid hybridization technology, one can also use immunoassays to detect T1Rs, e.g., to identify taste receptor cells, and variants of T1R family members. Immunoassays can be used to qualitatively or quantitatively analyze the T1Rs. A general overview of the applicable technology can be found in Harlow & Lane, Antibodies: A Laboratory Manual (1988).

1. Antibodies to T1R Family Members

Methods of producing polyclonal and monoclonal antibodies that react specifically with a T1R family member are known to those of skill in the art (see, e.g., Coligan, Current Protocols in Immunology (1991); Harlow & Lane, supra; Goding, Monoclonal Antibodies: Principles and Practice (2d ed. 1986); and Kohler & Milstein, Nature, 256:495-497 (1975)). Such techniques include antibody preparation by selection of antibodies from libraries of recombinant antibodies in phage or similar vectors, as well as preparation of polyclonal and monoclonal antibodies by immunizing rabbits or mice (see, e.g., Huse et al., Science, 246:1275-1281 (1989); Ward et al., Nature, 341:544-546 (1989)).

A number of T1R-comprising immunogens may be used to produce antibodies specifically reactive with a T1R family member. For example, a recombinant T1R polypeptide, or an antigenic fragment thereof, can be isolated as described herein. Suitable antigenic regions include, e.g., the consensus sequences that are used to identify members of the T1R family. Recombinant proteins can be expressed in eukaryotic or prokaryotic cells as described above, and purified as generally described above. Recombinant protein is the preferred immunogen for the production of monoclonal or polyclonal antibodies. Alternatively, a synthetic peptide derived from the sequences disclosed herein and conjugated to a carrier protein can be used an immunogen. Naturally occurring protein may also be used either in pure or impure form. The product is then injected into an animal capable of producing antibodies. Either monoclonal or polyclonal antibodies may be generated, for subsequent use in immunoassays to measure the protein.

Methods of production of polyclonal antibodies are known to those of skill in the art. For example, an inbred strain of mice (e.g., BALB/C mice) or rabbits is immunized with the protein using a standard adjuvant, such as Freund's adjuvant, and a standard immunization protocol. The animal's immune response to the immunogen preparation is monitored by taking test bleeds and determining the titer of reactivity to the T1R. When appropriately high titers of antibody to the immunogen are obtained, blood is collected from the animal and antisera are prepared. Further fractionation of the antisera to enrich for antibodies reactive to the protein can be done if desired (see Harlow & Lane, supra).

Monoclonal antibodies may be obtained by various techniques familiar to those skilled in the art. Briefly, spleen cells from an animal immunized with a desired antigen may be immortalized, commonly by fusion with a myeloma cell (see Kohler & Milstein, Eur. J Immunol., 6:511-519 (1976)). Alternative methods of immortalization include transformation with Epstein Barr Virus, oncogenes, or retroviruses, or other methods well known in the art. Colonies arising from single immortalized cells are screened for production of antibodies of the desired specificity and affinity for the antigen, and yield of the monoclonal antibodies produced by such cells may be enhanced by various techniques, including injection into the peritoneal cavity of a vertebrate host. Alternatively, one may isolate DNA sequences which encode a monoclonal antibody or a binding fragment thereof by screening a DNA library from human B cells according to the general protocol outlined by Huse et al., Science, 246:1275-1281 (1989).

Monoclonal antibodies and polyclonal sera are collected and titered against the immunogen protein in an immunoassay, for example, a solid phase immunoassay with the immunogen immobilized on a solid support. Typically, polyclonal antisera with a titer of 104 or greater are selected and tested for their cross reactivity against non-T1R polypeptides, or even other T1R family members or other related proteins from other organisms, using a competitive binding immunoassay. Specific polyclonal antisera and monoclonal antibodies will usually bind with a Kd of at least about 0.1 mM, more usually at least about 1 pM, optionally at least about 0.1 p.M or better, and optionally 0.01 pM or better.

Once T1R family member specific antibodies are available, individual T1R proteins and protein fragments can be detected by a variety of immunoassay methods. For a review of immunological and immunoassay procedures, see Basic and Clinical Immunology (Stites & Terr eds., 7th ed. 1991). Moreover, the immunoassays of the present invention can be performed in any of several configurations, which are reviewed extensively in Enzyme Immunoassay (Maggio, ed., 1980); and Harlow & Lane, supra.

2. Immunological Binding Assays

T1R proteins, fragments, and variants can be detected and/or quantified using any of a number of well recognized immunological binding assays (see, e.g., U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,366,241; 4,376,110; 4,517,288; and 4,837,168). For a review of the general immunoassays, see also Methods in Cell Biology: Antibodies in Cell Biology, volume 37 (Asai, ed. 1993); Basic and Clinical Immunology (Stites & Terr, eds., 7th ed. 1991). Immunological binding assays (or immunoassays) typically use an antibody that specifically binds to a protein or antigen of choice (in this case a T1R family member or an antigenic subsequence thereof). The antibody (e.g., anti-T1R) may be produced by any of a number of means well known to those of skill in the art and as described above.

Immunoassays also often use a labeling agent to specifically bind to and label the complex formed by the antibody and antigen. The labeling agent may itself be one of the moieties comprising the antibody/antigen complex. Thus, the labeling agent may be a labeled T1R polypeptide or a labeled anti-T1R antibody. Alternatively, the labeling agent may be a third moiety, such a secondary antibody, that specifically binds to the antibody/T1R complex (a secondary antibody is typically specific to antibodies of the species from which the first antibody is derived). Other proteins capable of specifically binding immunoglobulin constant regions, such as protein A or protein G may also be used as the label agent. These proteins exhibit a strong non-immunogenic reactivity with immunoglobulin constant regions from a variety of species (see, e.g., Kronval et al., J. Immunol., 111:1401-1406 (1973); Akerstrom et al., J. Immunol., 135:2589-2542 (1985)). The labeling agent can be modified with a detectable moiety, such as biotin, to which another molecule can specifically bind, such as streptavidin. A variety of detectable moieties are well known to those skilled in the art.

Throughout the assays, incubation and/or washing steps may be required after each combination of reagents. Incubation steps can vary from about 5 seconds to several hours, optionally from about 5 minutes to about 24 hours. However, the incubation time will depend upon the assay format, antigen, volume of solution, concentrations, and the like. Usually, the assays will be carried out at ambient temperature, although they can be conducted over a range of temperatures, such as 10.degree. C. to 40.degree. C. a. Non-competitive Assay Formats

Immunoassays for detecting a T1R polypeptide in a sample may be either competitive or noncompetitive. Noncompetitive immunoassays are assays in which the amount of antigen is directly measured. In one preferred “sandwich” assay, for example, the anti-T1R antibodies can be bound directly to a solid substrate on which they are immobilized. These immobilized antibodies then capture the T1R polypeptide present in the test sample. The T1R polypeptide is thus immobilized is then bound by a labeling agent, such as a second T1R antibody bearing a label. Alternatively, the second antibody may lack a label, but it may, in turn, be bound by a labeled third antibody specific to antibodies of the species from which the second antibody is derived. The second or third antibody is typically modified with a detectable moiety, such as biotin, to which another molecule specifically binds, e.g., streptavidin, to provide a detectable moiety. b. Competitive Assay Formats

In competitive assays, the amount of T1R polypeptide present in the sample is measured indirectly by measuring the amount of a known, added (exogenous) T1R polypeptide displaced (competed away) from an anti-T1R antibody by the unknown T1R polypeptide present in a sample. In one competitive assay, a known amount of T1R polypeptide is added to a sample and the sample is then contacted with an antibody that specifically binds to the T1R. The amount of exogenous T1R polypeptide bound to the antibody is inversely proportional to the concentration of T1R polypeptide present in the sample. In a particularly preferred embodiment, the antibody is immobilized on a solid substrate. The amount of T1R polypeptide bound to the antibody may be determined either by measuring the amount of T1R polypeptide present in a T1R/antibody complex, or alternatively by measuring the amount of remaining uncomplexed protein. The amount of T1R polypeptide may be detected by providing a labeled T1R molecule.

A hapten inhibition assay is another preferred competitive assay. In this assay the known T1R polypeptide is immobilized on a solid substrate. A known amount of anti-T1R antibody is added to the sample, and the sample is then contacted with the immobilized T1R. The amount of anti-T1R antibody bound to the known immobilized T1R polypeptide is inversely proportional to the amount of T1R polypeptide present in the sample. Again, the amount of immobilized antibody may be detected by detecting either the immobilized fraction of antibody or the fraction of the antibody that remains in solution. Detection may be direct where the antibody is labeled or indirect by the subsequent addition of a labeled moiety that specifically binds to the antibody as described above. c. Cross-reactivity Determinations

Immunoassays in the competitive binding format can also be used for cross-reactivity determinations. For example, a protein at least partially encoded by the nucleic acid sequences disclosed herein can be immobilized to a solid support. Proteins (e.g., T1R polypeptides and homologs) are added to the assay that compete for binding of the antisera to the immobilized antigen. The ability of the added proteins to compete for binding of the antisera to the immobilized protein is compared to the ability of the T1R polypeptide encoded by the nucleic acid sequences disclosed herein to compete with itself. The percent cross-reactivity for the above proteins is calculated, using standard calculations. Those antisera with less than 10% cross-reactivity with each of the added proteins listed above are selected and pooled. The cross-reacting antibodies are optionally removed from the pooled antisera by immunoabsorption with the added considered proteins, e.g., distantly related homologs. In addition, peptides comprising amino acid sequences representing conserved motifs that are used to identify members of the T1R family can be used in cross-reactivity determinations.

The immunoabsorbed and pooled antisera are then used in a competitive binding immunoassay as described above to compare a second protein, thought to be perhaps an allele or polymorphic variant of a T1R family member, to the immunogen protein (i.e., T1R polypeptide encoded by the nucleic acid sequences disclosed herein). In order to make this comparison, the two proteins are each assayed at a wide range of concentrations and the amount of each protein required to inhibit 50% of the binding of the antisera to the immobilized protein is determined. If the amount of the second protein required to inhibit 50% of binding is less than 10 times the amount of the protein encoded by nucleic acid sequences disclosed herein required to inhibit 50% of binding, then the second protein is said to specifically bind to the polyclonal antibodies generated to a T1R immunogen.

Antibodies raised against T1R conserved motifs can also be used to prepare antibodies that specifically bind only to GPCRs of the T1R family, but not to GPCRs from other families.

Polyclonal antibodies that specifically bind to a particular member of the T1R family can be made by subtracting out cross-reactive antibodies using other T1R family members. Species-specific polyclonal antibodies can be made in a similar way. For example, antibodies specific to human T1R1 can be made by, subtracting out antibodies that are cross-reactive with orthologous sequences, e.g., rat T1R1 or mouse T1R1.

d. Other Assay Formats

Western blot (immunoblot) analysis is used to detect and quantify the presence of T1R polypeptide in the sample. The technique generally comprises separating sample proteins by gel electrophoresis on the basis of molecular weight, transferring the separated proteins to a suitable solid support, (such as a nitrocellulose filter, a nylon filter, or derivatized nylon filter), and incubating the sample with the antibodies that specifically bind the T1R polypeptide. The anti-T1R polypeptide antibodies specifically bind to the T1R polypeptide on the solid support. These antibodies may be directly labeled or alternatively may be subsequently detected using labeled antibodies (e.g., labeled sheep anti-mouse antibodies) that specifically bind to the anti-T1R antibodies.

Other, assay formats include liposome immunoassays (LIA), which use liposomes designed to bind specific molecules (e.g., antibodies) and release encapsulated reagents or markers. The released chemicals are then detected according to standard techniques (see Monroe et al., Amer. Clin. Prod. Rev., 5:34-41 (1986)).

e. Reduction of Non-Specific Binding

One of skill in the art will appreciate that it is often desirable to minimize non-specific binding in immunoassays. Particularly, where the assay involves an antigen or antibody immobilized on a solid substrate it is desirable to minimize the amount of non-specific binding to the substrate. Means of reducing such non-specific binding are well known to those of skill in the art. Typically, this technique involves coating the substrate with a proteinaceous composition. In particular, protein compositions such as bovine serum albumin (BSA), nonfat powdered milk, and gelatin are widely used with powdered milk being most preferred.

f. Labels

The particular label or detectable group used in the assay is not a critical aspect of the invention, as long as it does not significantly interfere with the specific binding of the antibody used in the assay. The detectable group can be any material having a detectable physical or chemical property. Such detectable labels have been well developed in the field of immunoassays and, in general, most any label useful in such methods can be applied to the present invention. Thus, a label is any composition detectable by spectroscopic, photochemical, biochemical, immunochemical, electrical, optical, or chemical means. Useful labels in the present invention include magnetic beads (e.g., DYNABEADS™), fluorescent dyes (e.g., fluorescein isothiocyanate, Texas red, rhodamine, and the like), radiolabels (e.g., 3H, 1251, 3sS, 14C, or .sup.32 P), enzymes (e.g., horseradish peroxidase, alkaline phosphatase and others commonly used in an ELISA), and colorimetric labels such as colloidal gold or colored glass or plastic beads (e.g., polystyrene, polypropylene, latex, etc.).

The label may be coupled directly or indirectly to the desired component of the assay according to methods well known in the art. As indicated above, a wide variety of labels may be used, with the choice of label depending on sensitivity required, ease of conjugation with the compound, stability requirements, available instrumentation, and disposal provisions.

Non-radioactive labels are often attached by indirect means. Generally, a ligand molecule (e.g., biotin) is covalently bound to the molecule. The ligand then binds to another molecules (e.g., streptavidin) molecule, which is either inherently detectable or covalently bound to a signal system, such as a detectable enzyme, a fluorescent compound, or a chemiluminescent compound. The ligands and their targets can be used in any suitable combination with antibodies that recognize a T1R polypeptide, or secondary antibodies that recognize anti-T1R.

The molecules can also be conjugated directly to signal generating compounds, e.g., by conjugation with an enzyme or fluorophore. Enzymes of interest as labels will primarily be hydrolases, particularly phosphatases, esterases and glycosidases, or oxidotases, particularly peroxidases. Fluorescent compounds include fluorescein and its derivatives, rhodamine and its derivatives, dansyl, umbelliferone, etc. Chemiluminescent compounds include luciferin, and 2,3-dihydrophthalazinediones, e.g., luminol. For a review of various labeling or signal producing systems that may be used, see U.S. Pat. No. 4,391,904.

Means of detecting labels are well known to those of skill in the art. Thus, for example, where the label is a radioactive label, means for detection include a scintillation counter or photographic film as in autoradiography. Where the label is a fluorescent label, it may be detected by exciting the fluorochrome with the appropriate wavelength of light and detecting the resulting fluorescence. The fluorescence may be detected visually, by means of photographic film, by the use of electronic detectors such as charge-coupled devices (CCDs) or photomultipliers and the like. Similarly, enzymatic labels may be detected by providing the appropriate substrates for the enzyme and detecting the resulting reaction product. Finally simple colorimetric labels may be detected simply by observing the color associated with the label. Thus, in various dipstick assays, conjugated gold often appears pink, while various conjugated beads appear the color of the bead.

Some assay formats do not require the use of labeled components. For instance, agglutination assays can be used to detect the presence of the target antibodies. In this case, antigen-coated particles are agglutinated by samples comprising the target antibodies. In this format, none of the components need be labeled and the presence of the target antibody is detected by simple visual inspection.

E. Detection of Modulators

Compositions and methods for determining whether a test compound specifically binds to a chemosensory receptor of the invention, both in vitro and in vivo, are described below. Many aspects of cell physiology can be monitored to assess the effect of ligand binding to a T1R polypeptide of the invention. These assays may be performed on intact cells expressing a chemosensory receptor, on permeabilized cells, or on membrane fractions produced by standard methods.

Taste receptors bind tastants and initiate the transduction of chemical stimuli into electrical signals. An activated or inhibited G protein will in turn alter the properties of target enzymes, channels, and other effector proteins. Some examples are the activation of cGMP phosphodiesterase by transducin in the visual system, adenylate cyclase by the stimulatory G protein, phospholipase C by Gq and other cognate G proteins, and modulation of diverse channels by Gi and other G proteins. Downstream consequences can also be examined such as generation of diacyl glycerol and IP3 by phospholipase C, and in turn, for calcium mobilization by IP3.

The T1R proteins or polypeptides of the assay will typically be selected from a polypeptide having a sequence of SEQ ID NOS: 4, 10, 12, 14, 17, or fragments or conservatively modified variants thereof. Optionally, the fragments and variants can be antigenic fragments and variants which bind to an anti-T1R antibody.

Alternatively, the T1R proteins or polypeptides of the assay can be derived from a eukaryote host cell and can include an amino acid subsequence having amino acid sequence identity to SEQ ID NOS: 4, 10, 12, 14, 17, or fragments or conservatively modified variants thereof. Generally, the amino acid sequence identity will be at least 35 to 50%, or optionally 75%, 85%, 90%, 95%, 96%, 97%, 98%, or 99%. Optionally, the T1R proteins or polypeptides of the assays can comprise a domain of a T1R protein, such as an extracellular domain, transmembrane region, transmembrane domain, cytoplasmic domain, ligand-binding domain, and the like. Further, as described above, the T1R protein or a domain thereof can be covalently linked to a heterologous protein to create a chimeric protein used in the assays described herein.

Modulators of T1R receptor activity are tested using T1R proteins or polypeptides as described above, either recombinant or naturally occurring. The T1R proteins or polypeptides can be isolated, expressed in a cell, expressed in a membrane derived from a cell, expressed in tissue or in an animal, either recombinant or naturally occurring. For example, tongue slices, dissociated cells from a tongue, transformed cells, or membranes can be used. Modulation can be tested using one of the in vitro or in vivo assays described herein.

1. In Vitro Binding Assays

Taste transduction can also be examined in vitro with soluble or solid state reactions, using a T1R polypeptide of the invention. In a particular embodiment, a T1R ligand-binding domain can be used in vitro in soluble or solid state reactions to assay for ligand binding.

For instance, the T1R N-terminal domain is predicted to be involved in ligand binding. More particularly, the T1Rs belong to a GPCR sub-family that is characterized by large, approximately 600 amino acid, extracellular N-terminal segments. These N-terminal segments are thought to form, at least in part, the ligand-binding domains, and are therefore useful in biochemical assays to identify T1R agonists and antagonists. The ligand-binding domain may also contain additional portions of the extracellular domain, such as the extracellular loops of the transmembrane domain. Similar assays have been used with other GPCRs that are related to the T1Rs, such as the metabotropic glutamate receptors (see, e.g., Han and Hampson, J. Biol. Chem. 274:10008-10013 (1999)). These assays might involve displacing a radioactively or fluorescently labeled ligand, measuring changes in intrinsic fluorescence or changes in proteolytic susceptibility, etc.

Ligand binding to a T1R polypeptide of the invention can be tested in solution, in a bilayer membrane, optionally attached to a solid phase, in a lipid monolayer, or in vesicles. Binding of a modulator can be tested using, e.g., changes in spectroscopic characteristics (e.g., fluorescence, absorbance, refractive index) hydrodynamic (e.g., shape), chromatographic, or solubility properties. Preferred binding assays of the invention are biochemical binding assays that use recombinant soluble N-terminal T1R domains.

Receptor-G protein interactions can also be examined. For example, binding of the G protein to the receptor, or its release from the receptor can be examined. More particularly, in the absence of GTP, an activator will lead to the formation of a tight complex of a G protein (all three subunits) with the receptor. This complex can be detected in a variety of ways, as noted above. Such an assay can be modified to search for inhibitors, e.g., by adding an activator to the receptor and G protein in the absence of GTP, which form a tight complex, and then screen for inhibitors by looking at dissociation of the receptor-G protein complex. In the presence of GTP, release of the alpha subunit of the G protein from the other two G protein subunits serves as a criterion of activation. An activated or inhibited G protein will in turn alter the properties of target enzymes, channels, and other effector proteins.

In another embodiment of the invention, a GTP.gamma.S assay may be used. As described above, upon activation of a GPCR, the G.alpha. subunit of the G protein complex is stimulated to exchange bound GDP for GTP. Ligand-mediated stimulation of G protein exchange activity can be measured in a biochemical assay measuring the binding of added radioactively-labeled GTP.gamma..sup.35S to the G protein in the presence of a putative ligand. Typically, membranes containing the chemosensory receptor of interest are mixed with a complex of G proteins. Potential inhibitors and/or activators and GTP.gamma.S are added to the assay, and binding of GTP.gamma.S to the G protein is measured. Binding can be measured by liquid scintillation counting or by any other means known in the art, including scintillation proximity assays (SPA). In other assays formats, fluorescently-labeled GTP.gamma.S can be utilized.

2. Fluorescence Polarization Assays

In another embodiment, Fluorescence Polarization (“FP”) based assays may be used to detect and monitor ligand binding. Fluorescence polarization is a versatile laboratory technique for measuring equilibrium binding, nucleic acid hybridization, and enzymatic activity. Fluorescence polarization assays are homogeneous in that they do not require a separation step such as centrifugation, filtration, chromatography, precipitation, or electrophoresis. These assays are done in real time, directly in solution and do not require an immobilized phase. Polarization values can be measured repeatedly and after the addition of reagents since measuring the polarization is rapid and does not destroy the sample. Generally, this technique can be used to measure polarization values of fluorophores from low picomolar to micromolar levels. This section describes how fluorescence polarization can be used in a simple and quantitative way to measure the binding of ligands to the T1R polypeptides of the invention.

When a fluorescently labeled molecule is excited with plane polarized light, it emits light that has a degree of polarization that is inversely proportional to its molecular rotation. Large fluorescently labeled molecules remain relatively stationary during the excited state (4 nanoseconds in the case of fluorescein) and the polarization of the light remains relatively constant between excitation and emission. Small fluorescently labeled molecules rotate rapidly during the excited state and the polarization changes significantly between excitation and emission. Therefore, small molecules have low polarization values and large molecules have high polarization values. For example, a single-stranded fluorescein-labeled oligonucleotide has a relatively low polarization value but when it is hybridized to a complementary strand, it has a higher polarization value. When using FP to detect and monitor tastant-binding which may activate or inhibit the chemosensory receptors of the invention, fluorescence-labeled tastants or auto-fluorescent tastants may be used.

Fluorescence polarization (P) is defined as: .perp..perp. ##EQU00001##

Where .PI. is the intensity of the emission-light parallel to the excitation light plane and Int .perp. is the intensity of the emission light perpendicular to the excitation light plane. P, being a ratio of light intensities, is a dimensionless number. For example, the Beacon® and Beacon 2000™. System may be used in connection with these assays. Such systems typically express polarization in millipolarization units (1 Polarization Unit=1000 mP Units).

The relationship between molecular rotation and size is described by the Perrin equation and the reader is referred to Jolley, M. E. (1991) in Journal of Analytical Toxicology, pp. 236-240, which gives a thorough explanation of this equation. Summarily, the Perrin equation states that polarization is directly proportional to the rotational relaxation time, the time that it takes a molecule to rotate through an angle of approximately 68.5.degree. Rotational relaxation time is related to viscosity (.eta.), absolute temperature (T), molecular volume (V), and the gas constant (R) by the following equation: .times..times..times..times..times..eta. ##EQU00002##

The rotational relaxation time is small (.apprxeq.1 nanosecond) for small molecules (e.g. fluorescein) and large (.apprxeq.100 nanoseconds) for large molecules (e.g. immunoglobulins). If viscosity and temperature are held constant, rotational relaxation time, and therefore polarization, is directly related to the molecular volume. Changes in molecular volume may be due to interactions with other molecules, dissociation, polymerization, degradation, hybridization, or conformational changes of the fluorescently labeled molecule. For example, fluorescence polarization has been used to measure enzymatic cleavage of large fluorescein labeled polymers by proteases, DNases, and RNases. It also has been used to measure equilibrium binding for protein/protein interactions, antibody/antigen binding, and protein/DNA binding.

3. Solid State and Soluble High Throughput Assays

In yet another embodiment, the invention provides soluble assays using a T1R polypeptide; or a cell or tissue expressing an T1R polypeptide. In another embodiment, the invention provides solid phase based in vitro assays in a high throughput format, where the T1R polypeptide, or cell or tissue expressing the T1R polypeptide is attached to a solid phase substrate.

In the high throughput assays of the invention, it is possible to screen up to several thousand different modulators or ligands in a single day. In particular, each well of a microtiter plate can be used to run a separate assay against a selected potential modulator, or, if concentration or incubation time effects are to be observed, every 5-10 wells can test a single modulator. Thus, a single standard microtiter plate can assay about 100 (e.g., 96) modulators. If 1536 well plates are used, then a single plate can easily assay from about 1000 to about 1500 different compounds. It is also possible to assay multiple compounds in each plate well. It is possible to assay several different plates per day; assay screens for up to about 6,000-20,000 different compounds is possible using the integrated systems of the invention. More recently, microfluidic approaches to reagent manipulation have been developed.

The molecule of interest can be bound to the solid state component, directly or indirectly, via covalent or non-covalent linkage, e.g., via a tag. The tag can be any of a variety of components. In general, a molecule which binds the tag (a tag binder) is fixed to a solid support, and the tagged molecule of interest (e.g., the taste transduction molecule of interest) is attached to the solid support by interaction of the tag and the tag binder.

A number of tags and tag binders can be used, based upon known molecular interactions well described in the literature. For example, where a tag has a natural binder, for example, biotin, protein A, or protein G, it can be used in conjunction with appropriate tag binders (avidin, streptavidin, neutravidin, the Fc region of an immunoglobulin, etc.). Antibodies to molecules with natural binders such as biotin are also widely available and appropriate tag binders (see, SIGMA Immunochemicals 1998 catalogue SIGMA, St. Louis Mo.).

Similarly, any haptenic or antigenic compound can be used in combination with an appropriate antibody to form a tag/tag binder pair. Thousands of specific antibodies are commercially available and many additional antibodies are described in the literature. For example, in one common configuration, the tag is a first antibody and the tag binder is a second antibody which recognizes the first antibody. In addition to antibody-antigen interactions, receptor-ligand interactions are also appropriate as tag and tag-binder pairs. For example, agonists and antagonists of cell membrane receptors (e.g., cell receptor-ligand interactions such as transferrin, c-kit, viral receptor ligands, cytokine receptors, chemokine receptors, interleukin receptors, immunoglobulin receptors and antibodies, the cadherein family, the integrin family, the selectin family, and the like; see, e.g., Pigott & Power, The Adhesion Molecule Facts Book I (1993)). Similarly, toxins and venoms, viral epitopes, hormones (e.g., opiates, steroids, etc.), intracellular receptors (e.g., which mediate the effects of various small ligands, including steroids, thyroid hormone, retinoids and vitamin D; peptides), drugs, lectins, sugars, nucleic acids (both linear and cyclic polymer configurations), oligosaccharides, proteins, phospholipids and antibodies can all interact with various cell receptors.

Synthetic polymers, such as polyurethanes, polyesters, polycarbonates, polyureas, polyamides, polyethyleneimines, polyarylene sulfides, polysiloxanes, polyimides, and polyacetates can also form an appropriate tag or tag binder. Many other tag/tag binder pairs are also useful in assay systems described herein, as would be apparent to one of skill upon review of this disclosure.

Common linkers such as peptides, polyethers, and the like can also serve as tags, and include polypeptide sequences, such as poly gly sequences of between about 5 and 200 amino acids. Such flexible linkers are known to persons of skill in the art. For example, poly(ethelyne glycol) linkers are available from Shearwater Polymers, Inc. Huntsville, Ala. These linkers optionally have amide linkages, sulfhydryl linkages, or heterofunctional linkages.

Tag binders are fixed to solid substrates using any of a variety of methods currently available. Solid substrates are commonly derivatized or functionalized by exposing all or a portion of the substrate to a chemical reagent which fixes a chemical group to the surface which is reactive with a portion of the tag binder. For example, groups which are suitable for attachment to a longer chain portion would include amines, hydroxyl, thiol, and carboxyl groups. Aminoalkylsilanes and hydroxyalkylsilanes can be used to functionalize a variety of surfaces, such as glass surfaces. The construction of such solid phase biopolymer arrays is well described in the literature. See, e.g., Merrifield, J. Am. Chem. Soc., 85:2149-2154 (1963) (describing solid phase synthesis of, e.g., peptides); Geysen et al., J. Immun. Meth., 102:259-274 (1987) (describing synthesis of solid phase components on pins); Frank & Doring, Tetrahedron, 44:60316040 (1988) (describing synthesis of various peptide sequences on cellulose disks); Fodor et al., Science, 251:767-777 (1991); Sheldon et al., Clinical Chemistry, 39(4):718-719 (1993); and Kozal et al., Nature Medicine, 2(7):753759 (1996) (all describing arrays of biopolymers fixed to solid substrates). Non-chemical approaches for fixing tag binders to substrates include other common methods, such as heat, cross-linking by UV radiation, and the like.

4. Computer-Based Assays

Yet another assay for compounds that modulate T1R polypeptide activity involves computer assisted compound design, in which a computer system is used to generate a three-dimensional structure of an T1R polypeptide based on the structural information encoded by its amino acid sequence. The input amino acid sequence interacts directly and actively with a preestablished algorithm in a computer program to yield secondary, tertiary, and quaternary structural models of the protein. The models of the protein structure are then examined to identify regions of the structure that have the ability to bind, e.g., ligands. These regions are then used to identify ligands that bind to the protein.

The three-dimensional structural model of the protein is generated by entering protein amino acid sequences of at least 10 amino acid residues or corresponding nucleic acid sequences encoding a T1R polypeptide into the computer system. The nucleotide sequence encoding the T1R polypeptide, or the amino acid sequence thereof, can be any sequence disclosed herein, and conservatively modified versions thereof.

The amino acid sequence represents the primary sequence or subsequence of the protein, which encodes the structural information of the protein. At least 10 residues of the amino acid sequence (or a nucleotide sequence encoding 10 amino acids) are entered into the computer system from computer keyboards, computer readable substrates that include, but are not limited to, electronic storage media (e.g., magnetic diskettes, tapes, cartridges, and chips), optical media (e.g., CD ROM), information distributed by internet sites, and by RAM. The three-dimensional structural model of the protein is then generated by the interaction of the amino acid sequence and the computer system, using software known to those of skill in the art.

The amino acid sequence represents a primary structure that encodes the information necessary to form the secondary, tertiary and quaternary structure of the protein of interest. The software looks at certain parameters encoded by the primary sequence to generate the structural model. These parameters are referred to as “energy terms,” and primarily include electrostatic potentials, hydrophobic potentials, solvent accessible surfaces, and hydrogen bonding. Secondary energy terms include van der Waals potentials. Biological molecules form the structures that minimize the energy terms in a cumulative fashion. The computer program is therefore using these terms encoded by the primary structure or amino acid sequence to create the secondary structural model.

The tertiary structure of the protein encoded by the secondary structure is then formed on the basis of the energy terms of the secondary structure. The user at this point can enter additional variables such as whether the protein is membrane bound or soluble, its location in the body, and its cellular location, e.g., cytoplasmic, surface, or nuclear. These variables along with the energy terms of the secondary structure are used to form the model of the tertiary structure. In modeling the tertiary structure, the computer program matches hydrophobic faces of secondary structure with like, and hydrophilic faces of secondary structure with like.

Once the structure has been generated, potential ligand-binding regions are identified by the computer system. Three-dimensional structures for potential ligands are generated by entering amino acid or nucleotide sequences or chemical formulas of compounds, as described above. The three-dimensional structure of the potential ligand is then compared to that of the T1R polypeptide to identify ligands that bind to the protein. Binding affinity between the protein and ligands is determined using energy terms to determine which ligands have an enhanced probability of binding to the protein.

Computer systems are also used to screen for mutations, polymorphic variants, alleles, and interspecies homologs of T1R genes. Such mutations can be associated with disease states or genetic traits. As described above, GeneChip™ and related technology can also be used to screen for mutations, polymorphic variants, alleles, and interspecies homologs. Once the variants are identified, diagnostic assays can be used to identify patients having such mutated genes. Identification of the mutated T1R genes involves receiving input of a first nucleic acid or amino acid sequence of a T1R gene, or conservatively modified versions thereof. The sequence is entered into the computer system as described above. The first nucleic acid or amino acid sequence is then compared to a second nucleic acid or amino acid sequence that has substantial identity to the first sequence. The second sequence is entered into the computer system in the manner described above. Once the first and second sequences are compared, nucleotide or amino acid differences between the sequences are identified. Such sequences can represent allelic differences in various T1R genes, and mutations associated with disease states and genetic traits.

5. Cell-Based Binding Assays

In one embodiment, a T1R protein or polypeptide is expressed in a eukaryotic cell as a chimeric receptor with a heterologous, chaperone sequence that facilitates its maturation and targeting through the secretory pathway. Such chimeric T1R polypeptides can be expressed in any eukaryotic cell, such as HEK-293 cells. Preferably, the cells comprise a functional G protein, e.g., G.alpha.15, that is capable of coupling the chimeric receptor to an intracellular signaling pathway or to a signaling protein such as phospholipase C. Activation of such chimeric receptors in such cells can be detected using any standard method, such as by detecting changes in intracellular calcium by detecting FURA-2 dependent fluorescence in the cell.

Activated GPCR receptors become substrates for kinases that phosphorylate the C-terminal tail of the receptor (and possibly other sites as well). Thus, activators will promote the transfer of 32P from gamma-labeled GTP to the receptor, which can be assayed with a scintillation counter. The phosphorylation of the C-terminal tail will promote the binding of arrestin-like proteins and will interfere with the binding of G proteins. The kinase/arrestin pathway plays a key role in the desensitization of many GPCR receptors. For example, compounds that modulate the duration a taste receptor stays active would be useful as a means of prolonging a desired taste or cutting off an unpleasant one. For a general review of GPCR signal transduction and methods of assaying signal transduction, see, e.g., Methods in Enzymology, vols. 237 and 238 (1994) and volume 96 (1983); Bourne et al., Nature, 10:349:117-27 (1991); Bourne et al., Nature, 348:125-32 (1990); Pitcher et al., Annu. Rev. Biochem., 67:653-92 (1998).

T1R modulation may be assayed by comparing the response of a T1R polypeptide treated with a putative T1R modulator to the response of an untreated control sample. Such putative T1R modulators can include tastants that either inhibit or activate T1R polypeptide activity. In one embodiment, control samples (untreated with activators or inhibitors) are assigned a relative T1R activity value of 100. Inhibition of a T1R polypeptide is achieved when the T1R activity value relative to the control is about 90%, optionally 50%, optionally 25-0%. Activation of a T1R polypeptide is achieved when the T1R activity value relative to the control is 110%, optionally 150%, 200-500%, or 1000-2000%.

Changes in ion flux may be assessed by determining changes in ionic polarization (i.e., electrical potential) of the cell or membrane expressing a T1R polypeptide. One means to determine changes in cellular polarization is by measuring changes in current (thereby measuring changes in polarization) with voltage-clamp and patch-clamp techniques (see, e.g., the “cell-attached” mode, the “inside-out” mode, and the “whole cell” mode, e.g., Ackerman et al., New Engl. J Med., 336:1575-1595 (1997)). Whole cell currents are conveniently determined using the standard. Other known assays include: radiolabeled ion flux assays and fluorescence assays using voltage-sensitive dyes (see, e.g., Vestergarrd-Bogind et al, J. Membrane Biol., 88:67-75 (1988); Gonzales & Tsien, Chem. Biol., 4:269277 (1997); Daniel et al., J. Pharmacol. Meth., 25:185-193 (1991); Holevinsky et al., J. Membrane Biology, 137:59-70 (1994)). Generally, the compounds to be tested are present in the range from 1 pM to 100 mM.

The effects of the test compounds upon the function of the polypeptides can be measured by examining any of the parameters described above. Any suitable physiological change that affects GPCR activity can be used to assess the influence of a test compound on the polypeptides of this invention. When the functional consequences are determined using intact cells or animals, one can also measure a variety of effects such as transmitter release, hormone release, transcriptional changes to both known and uncharacterized genetic markers (e.g., northern blots), changes in cell metabolism such as cell growth or pH changes, and changes in intracellular second messengers such as Ca.sup.2+, IP3, cGMP, or cAMP.

Preferred assays for GPCRs include cells that are loaded with ion or voltage sensitive dyes to report receptor activity. Assays for determining activity of such receptors can also use known agonists and antagonists for other G protein-coupled receptors as negative or positive controls to assess activity of tested compounds. In assays for identifying modulatory compounds (e.g., agonists, antagonists), changes in the level of ions in the cytoplasm or membrane voltage will be monitored using an ion sensitive or membrane voltage fluorescent indicator, respectively.

Among the ion-sensitive indicators and voltage probes that may be employed are those disclosed in the Molecular Probes 1997 Catalog. For G protein-coupled receptors, promiscuous G proteins such as G.alpha.15 and G.alpha.16 can be used in the assay of choice (Wilkie et al., Proc. Nat'l Acad. Sci., 88:10049-10053 (1991)). Such promiscuous G proteins allow coupling of a wide range of receptors.

Receptor activation typically initiates subsequent intracellular events, e.g., increases in second messengers such as IP3, which releases intracellular stores of calcium ions. Activation of some G protein-coupled receptors stimulates the formation of inositol triphosphate (IP3) through phospholipase C-mediated hydrolysis of phosphatidylinositol (Berridge & Irvine, Nature, 312:315-21 (1984)). IP3 in turn stimulates the release of intracellular calcium ion stores. Thus, a change in cytoplasmic calcium ion levels, or a change in second messenger levels such as IP3 can be used to assess G protein-coupled receptor function. Cells expressing such G protein-coupled receptors may exhibit increased cytoplasmic calcium levels as a result of contribution from both intracellular stores and via activation of ion channels, in which case it may be desirable although not necessary to conduct such assays in calcium-free buffer, optionally supplemented with a chelating agent such as EGTA, to distinguish fluorescence response resulting from calcium release from internal stores.

Other assays can involve determining the activity of receptors which, when activated, result in a change in the level of intracellular cyclic nucleotides, e.g., cAMP or cGMP, by activating or inhibiting enzymes such as adenylate cyclase. There are cyclic nucleotide-gated ion channels, e.g., rod photoreceptor cell channels and olfactory neuron channels that are permeable to cations upon activation by binding of cAMP or cGMP (see, e.g., Altenhofen et al., Proc. Nat'l Acad. Sci., 88:9868-9872 (1991) and Dhallan et al., Nature, 347:184-187 (1990)). In cases where activation of the receptor results in a decrease in cyclic nucleotide levels, it may be preferable to expose the cells to agents that increase intracellular cyclic nucleotide levels, e.g., forskolin, prior to adding a receptor-activating compound to the cells in the assay. Cells for this type of assay can be made by co-transfection of a host cell with DNA encoding a cyclic nucleotide-crated ion channel, GPCR phosphatase and DNA encoding a receptor (e.g., certain glutamate receptors, musearinic acetylcholine receptors, dopamine receptors, serotonin receptors, and the like), which, when activated, causes a change in cyclic nucleotide levels in the cytoplasm.

In a preferred embodiment, T1R polypeptide activity is measured by expressing a T1R gene in a heterologous cell with a promiscuous G protein that links the receptor to a phospholipase C signal transduction pathway (see Offernanns & Simon, J. Biol. Chem., 270:15175-15180 (1995)). Optionally the cell line is HEK-293 (which does not naturally express T1R genes) and the promiscuous G protein is G.alpha.15 (Offermanns & Simon, supra). Modulation of taste transduction is assayed by measuring changes in intracellular Ca.sup.2+ levels, which change in response to modulation of the T1R signal transduction pathway via administration of a molecule that associates with a T1R polypeptide. Changes in Ca.sup.2+ levels are optionally measured using fluorescent Ca.sup.2+ indicator dyes and fluorometric imaging.

In one embodiment, the changes in intracellular cAMP or cGMP can be measured using immunoassays. The method described in Offermanns & Simon, J. Bio. Chem., 270:15175-15180 (1995), may be used to determine the level of cAMP. Also, the method described in Felley-Bosco et al., Am. J Resp. Cell and Mol. Biol., 11:159-164 (1994), may be used to determine the level of cGMP. Further, an assay kit for measuring cAMP and/or cGMP is described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,115,538, herein incorporated by reference.

In another embodiment, phosphatidyl inositol (PI) hydrolysis can be analyzed according to U.S. Pat. No. 5,436,128, herein incorporated by reference. Briefly, the assay involves labeling of cells with 3H-myoinositol for 48 or more hrs. The labeled cells are treated with a test compound for one hour. The treated cells are lysed and extracted in chloroform-methanol-water after which the inositol phosphates were separated by ion exchange chromatography and quantified by scintillation counting. Fold stimulation is determined by calculating the ratio of cpm in the presence of agonist, to cpm in the presence of buffer control. Likewise, fold inhibition is determined by calculating the ratio of cpm in the presence of antagonist, to cpm in the presence of buffer control (which may or may not contain an agonist).

In another embodiment, transcription levels can be measured to assess the effects of a test compound on signal transduction. A host cell containing a T1R polypeptide of interest is contacted with a test compound for a sufficient time to effect any interactions, and then the level of gene expression is measured. The amount of time to effect such interactions may be empirically determined, such as by running a time course and measuring the level of transcription as a function of time. The amount of transcription may be measured by using any method known to those of skill in the art to be suitable. For example, mRNA expression of the protein of interest may be detected using northern blots or their polypeptide products may be identified using immunoassays. Alternatively, transcription based assays using reporter gene may be used as described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,436,128, herein incorporated by reference. The reporter genes can be, e.g., chloramphenicol acetyltransferase, luciferase, ′3-galactosidase and alkaline phosphatase. Furthermore, the protein of interest can be used as an indirect reporter via attachment to a second reporter such as green fluorescent protein (see, e.g., Mistili & Spector, Nature Biotechnology, 15:961-964 (1997)).

The amount of transcription is then compared to the amount of transcription in either the same cell in the absence of the test compound, or it may be compared with the amount of transcription in a substantially identical cell that lacks the T1R polypeptide of interest. A substantially identical cell may be derived from the same cells from which the recombinant cell was prepared but which had not been modified by introduction of heterologous DNA. Any difference in the amount of transcription indicates that the test compound has in some manner altered the activity of the T1R polypeptide of interest.

6. Transgenic Non-human Animals Expressing Chemosensory Receptors

Non-human animals expressing one or more chemosensory receptor sequences of the invention, can also be used for receptor assays. Such expression can be used to determine whether a test compound specifically binds to a mammalian taste transmembrane receptor polypeptide in vivo by contacting a non-human animal stably or transiently transfected with a nucleic acid encoding a chemosensory receptor or ligand-binding region thereof with a test compound and determining whether the animal reacts to the test compound by specifically binding to the receptor polypeptide.

Animals transfected or infected with the vectors of the invention are particularly useful for assays to identify and characterize tastants/ligands that can bind to a specific or sets of receptors. Such vector-infected animals expressing human chemosensory receptor sequences can be used for in vivo screening of tastants and their effect on, e.g., cell physiology (e.g., on taste neurons), on the CNS, or behavior.

Means to infect/express the nucleic acids and vectors, either individually or as libraries, are well known in the art. A variety of individual cell, organ, or whole animal parameters can be measured by a variety of means. The T1R sequences of the invention can be for example expressed in animal taste tissues by delivery with an infecting agent, e.g., adenovirus expression vector.

The endogenous chemosensory receptor genes can remain functional and wild-type (native) activity can still be present. In other situations, where it is desirable that all chemosensory receptor activity is by the introduced exogenous hybrid receptor, use of a knockout line is preferred. Methods for the construction of non-human transgenic animals, particularly transgenic mice, and the selection and preparation of recombinant constructs for generating transformed cells are well known in the art.

Construction of a “knockout” cell and animal is based on the premise that the level of expression of a particular gene in a mammalian cell can be decreased or completely abrogated by introducing into the genome a new DNA sequence that serves to interrupt some portion of the DNA sequence of the gene to be suppressed. Also, “gene trap insertion” can be used to disrupt a host gene, and mouse embryonic stem (ES) cells can be used to produce knockout transgenic animals (see, e.g., Holzschu, Transgenic Res 6:97-106 (1997)). The insertion of the exogenous is typically by homologous recombination between complementary nucleic acid sequences. The exogenous sequence is some portion of the target gene to be modified, such as exonic, intronic or transcriptional regulatory sequences, or any genomic sequence which is able to affect the level of the target gene's expression; or a combination thereof. Gene targeting via homologous recombination in pluripotential embryonic stem cells allows one to modify precisely the genomic sequence of interest. Any technique can be used to create, screen for, propagate, a knockout animal, e.g., see Bijvoet, Hum. Mol. Genet. 7:53-62 (1998); Moreadith, J. Mol. Med. 75:208-216 (1997); Tojo, Cytotechnology 19:161-165 (1995); Mudgett, Methods Mol. Biol. 48:167-184 (1995); Longo, Transgenic Res. 6:321-328 (1997); U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,616,491; 5,464,764; 5,631,153; 5,487,992; 5,627,059; 5,272,071; WO 91/09955; WO93/09222; WO 96/29411; WO 95/31560; WO 91/12650.

The nucleic acids of the invention can also be used as reagents to produce “knockout” human cells and their progeny. Likewise, the nucleic acids of the invention can also be used as reagents to produce “knock-ins” in mice. The human or rat T1R gene sequences can replace the orthologous T1R in the mouse genome. In this way, a mouse expressing a human or rat T1R is produced. This mouse can then be used to analyze the function of human or rat T1Rs, and to identify ligands for such T1Rs.

F. Modulators

The compounds tested as modulators of a T1R family member can be any small chemical compound, or a biological entity, such as a protein, sugar, nucleic acid or lipid. Alternatively, modulators can be genetically altered versions of a T1R gene. Typically, test compounds will be small chemical molecules and peptides. Essentially any chemical compound can be used as a potential modulator or ligand in the assays of the invention, although most often compounds can be dissolved in aqueous or organic (especially DMSO-based) solutions are used. The assays are designed to screen large chemical libraries by automating the assay steps and providing compounds from any convenient source to assays, which are typically run in parallel (e.g., in microtiter formats on microtiter plates in robotic assays). It will be appreciated that there are many suppliers of chemical compounds, including Sigma (St. Louis, Mo.), Aldrich (St. Louis, Mo.), Sigma-Aldrich (St. Louis, Mo.), Fluka Chemika-Biochemica Analytika (Buchs, Switzerland) and the like.

In one preferred embodiment, high throughput screening methods involve providing a combinatorial chemical or peptide library containing a large number of potential therapeutic compounds (potential modulator or ligand compounds). Such “combinatorial chemical libraries” or “ligand libraries” are then screened in one or more assays, as described herein, to identify those library members (particular chemical species or subclasses) that display a desired characteristic activity. The compounds thus identified can serve as conventional “lead compounds” or can themselves be used as potential or actual therapeutics.

A combinatorial chemical library is a collection of diverse chemical compounds generated by either chemical synthesis or biological synthesis, by combining a number of chemical “building blocks” such as reagents. For example, a linear combinatorial chemical library such as a polypeptide library is formed by combining a set of chemical building blocks (amino acids) in every possible way for a given compound length (i.e., the number of amino acids in a polypeptide compound). Millions of chemical compounds can be synthesized through such combinatorial mixing of chemical building blocks.

Preparation and screening of combinatorial chemical libraries is well known to those of skill in the art. Such combinatorial chemical libraries include, but are not limited to, peptide libraries (see, e.g., U.S. Pat. No. 5,010,175, Furka, Int. J. Pept. Prot. Res., 37:487-493 (1991) and Houghton et al., Nature, 354:84-88 (1991)). Other chemistries for generating chemical diversity libraries can also be used. Such chemistries include, but are not limited to: peptoids (e.g., PCT Publication No. WO 91/19735), encoded peptides (e.g., PCT Publication WO 93/20242), random bio-oligomers (e.g., PCT Publication No. WO 92/00091), benzodiazepines (e.g., U.S. Pat. No. 5,288,514), diversomers such as hydantoins, benzodiazepines and dipeptides (Hobbs et al., Proc. Nat. Acad. Sci., 90:6909-6913 (1993)), vinylogous polypeptides (Hagihara et al., J. Amer. Chem. Soc., 114:6568 (1992)), nonpeptidal peptidomimetics with glucose scaffolding (Hirschmann et al., J. Amer. Chem. Soc., 114:9217-9218 (1992)), analogous organic syntheses of small compound libraries (Chen et al., J. Amer. Chem. Soc., 116:2661 (1994)), oligocarbamates (Cho et al., Science, 261:1303 (1993)), peptidyl phosphonates (Campbell et al., J. Org. Chem., 59:658 (1994)), nucleic acid libraries (Ausubel, Berger and Sambrook, all supra), peptide nucleic acid libraries (U.S. Pat. No. 5,539,083), antibody libraries (Vaughn et al., Nature Biotechnology, 14(3):309-314 (1996) and PCT/US96/10287), carbohydrate libraries (Liang et al., Science, 274:1520-1522 (1996) and U.S. Pat. No. 5,593,853), small organic molecule libraries (benzodiazepines, Baum, C&EN, January 18, page 33 (1993); thiazolidinones and metathiazanones, U.S. Pat. No. 5,549,974; pynrolidines, U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,525,735 and 5,519,134; morpholino compounds, U.S. Pat. No. 5,506,337; benzodiazepines, U.S. Pat. No. 5,288,514, and the like).

Devices for the preparation of combinatorial libraries are commercially available (see, e.g., 357 MPS, 390 MPS (Advanced Chem Tech, Louisville Ky.), Symphony (Rainin, Woburn, Mass.), 433A (Applied Biosystems, Foster City, Calif.), 9050 Plus (Millipore, Bedford, Mass.)). In addition, numerous combinatorial libraries are themselves commercially available (see, e.g., ComGenex, Princeton, N.J.; Tripos, Inc., St. Louis, Mo.; 3D Pharmaceuticals, Exton, Pa.; Martek Biosciences; Columbia, Md.; etc.).

In one aspect of the invention, the T1R modulators can be used in any food product, confectionery, pharmaceutical composition, or ingredient thereof to thereby modulate the taste of the product, composition, or ingredient in a desired manner. For instance, T1R modulators which enhance sweet taste sensation can be added to sweeten a product or composition, while T1R modulators which block undesirable taste sensations can be added to improve the taste of a product or composition.

G. Methods for Representing and Predicting the Perception of Taste

The invention also preferably provides methods for representing the perception of taste and/or for predicting the perception of taste in a mammal, including in a human. Preferably, such methods may be performed by using the receptors and genes encoding said T1R polypeptides disclosed herein.

Also contemplated as within the invention, is a method of screening one or more compounds for the presence of a taste detectable by a mammal, comprising: contacting said one or more compounds with the disclosed receptors, preferably wherein the mammal is a human. Also contemplated as within the invention, is a method for representing taste perception of a particular taste in a mammal, comprising the steps of: providing values X.sub.1 to X.sub.n representative of the quantitative stimulation of each of n chemosensory receptors of said vertebrate, where n is greater than or equal to 2; and generating from said values a quantitative representation of taste perception. The chemosensory receptors may be a chemosensory receptor disclosed herein, the representation may constitutes a point or a volume in n-dimensional space, may constitutes a graph or a spectrum, and may constitutes a matrix of quantitative representations. Also, the providing step may comprise contacting a plurality of recombinantly-produced chemosensory receptors with a test composition and quantitatively measuring the interaction of said composition with said receptors.

Also contemplated as within the invention, is a method for predicting the taste perception in a mammal generated by one or more molecules or combinations of molecules yielding unknown taste perception in a mammal, comprising the steps of: providing values X.sub.1 to X.sub.n representative of the quantitative stimulation of each of n chemosensory receptors of said vertebrate, where n is greater than or equal to 2, for one or more molecules or combinations of molecules yielding known taste perception in a mammal; and generating from said values a quantitative representation of taste perception in a mammal for the one or more molecules or combinations of molecules yielding known taste perception in a mammal, providing values X.sub.1 to X.sub.n representative of the quantitative stimulation of each of n chemosensory receptors of said vertebrate, where n is greater than or equal to 2, for one or more molecules or combinations of molecules yielding unknown taste perception in a mammal; and generating from said values a quantitative representation of taste perception in a mammal for the one or more molecules or combinations of molecules yielding unknown taste perception in a mammal, and predicting the taste perception in a mammal generated by one or more molecules or combinations of molecules yielding unknown taste perception in a mammal by comparing the quantitative representation of taste perception in a mammal for the one or more molecules or combinations of molecules yielding unknown taste perception in a mammal to the quantitative representation of taste perception in a mammal for the one or more molecules or combinations of molecules yielding known taste perception in a mammal. The chemosensory receptors used in this method may include a chemosensory receptor disclosed herein.

In another embodiment, novel molecules or combinations of molecules are generated which elicit a predetermined taste perception in a mammal by determining a value of taste perception in a mammal for a known molecule or combinations of molecules as described above; determining a value of taste perception in a mammal for one or more unknown molecules or combinations of molecules as described above; comparing the value of taste perception in a mammal for one or more unknown compositions to the value of taste perception in a mammal for one or more known compositions; selecting a molecule or combination of molecules that elicits a predetermined taste perception in a mammal; and combining two or more unknown molecules or combinations of molecules to form a molecule or combination of molecules that elicits a predetermined taste perception in a mammal. The combining step yields a single molecule or a combination of molecules that elicits a predetermined taste perception in a mammal.

In another embodiment of the invention, there is provided a method for simulating a taste, comprising the steps of: for each of a plurality of cloned chemosensory receptors, preferably human receptors, ascertaining the extent to which the receptor interacts with the tastant; and combining a plurality of compounds, each having a previously-ascertained interaction with one or more of the receptors, in amounts that together provide a receptor-stimulation profile that mimics the profile for the tastant. Interaction of a tastant with a chemosensory receptor can be determined using any of the binding or reporter assays described herein. The plurality of compounds may then be combined to form a mixture. If desired, one or more of the plurality of the compounds can be combined covalently. The combined compounds substantially stimulate at least 75%, 80%, or 90% of the receptors that are substantially stimulated by the tastant.

In another preferred embodiment of the invention, a plurality of standard compounds are tested against a plurality of chemosensory receptors to ascertain the extent to which the receptors each interact with each standard compound, thereby generating a receptor stimulation profile for each standard compound. These receptor stimulation profiles may then be stored in a relational database on a data storage medium. The method may further comprise providing a desired receptor-stimulation profile for a taste; comparing the desired receptor stimulation profile to the relational database; and ascertaining one or more combinations of standard compounds that most closely match the desired receptor-stimulation profile. The method may further comprise combining standard compounds in one or more of the ascertained combinations to simulate the taste.

H. Kits

T1R genes and their homologs are useful tools for identifying chemosensory receptor cells, for forensics and paternity determinations, and for examining taste transduction. T1R family member-specific reagents that specifically hybridize to T1R nucleic acids, such as T1R probes and primers, and T1R specific reagents that specifically bind to a T1R polypeptide, e.g., T1R antibodies are used to examine taste cell expression and taste transduction regulation.

Nucleic acid assays for the presence of DNA and RNA for a T1R family member in a sample include numerous techniques are known to those skilled in the art, such as southern analysis, northern analysis, dot blots, RNase protection, SI analysis, amplification techniques such as PCR, and in situ hybridization. In in situ hybridization, for example, the target nucleic acid is liberated from its cellular surroundings in such as to be available for hybridization within the cell while preserving the cellular morphology for subsequent interpretation and analysis. The following articles provide an overview of the art of in situ hybridization: Singer et al., Biotechniques, 4:230250 (1986); Haase et al., Methods in Virology, vol. VII, pp. 189-226 (1984); and Nucleic Acid Hybridization: A Practical Approach (Names et al., eds. 1987). In addition, a T1R polypeptide can be detected with the various immunoassay techniques described above. The test sample is typically compared to both a positive control (e.g., a sample expressing a recombinant T1R polypeptide) and a negative control.

The present invention also provides for kits for screening for modulators of T1R family members. Such kits can be prepared from readily available materials and reagents. For example, such kits can comprise any one or more of the following materials: T1R nucleic acids or proteins, reaction tubes, and instructions for testing T1R activity. Optionally, the kit contains a biologically active T1R receptor. A wide variety of kits and components can be prepared according to the present invention, depending upon the intended user of the kit and the particular needs of the user.

EXAMPLES

In the protein sequences presented herein, the one-letter code X or Xaa refers to any of the twenty common amino acid residues. In the DNA sequences presented herein, the one letter codes N or n refers to any of the of the four common nucleotide bases, A, T, C, or G.

Example 1 hT1R3

The hT1R3 genomic DNA is provided below as SEQ ID NO 1 and SEQ ID NO 2 with predicted coding sequences (cds) shown in boldface. The break between the 5′ and 3′ contigs is shown as elipses (‘ . . . ’). The hT1R3 predicted cds are described in SEQ ID NO 3. Finally, a preferred, predicted hT1R3 amino acid sequence is provided as SEQ ID NO 4, using the one-letter code for the amino acids.

TABLE-US-00001 hT1R3 genomic DNA—5′ contig (SEQ ID NO 1) AGCCTGGCAGTGGCCTCAGGCAGAGTCTGACGCGCACAAACTTTCAGGCCCAGGAA (SEQ ID NO: 1) GCGA GGACACCACTGGGGCCCCAGGGTGTGGCAAGTGAGGATGGCAAGGGTTTTGCTAAA CAAA TCCTCTGCCCGCTCCCCGCCCCGGGCTCACTCCATGTGAGGCCCCAGTCGGGGCAGC CACC TGCCGTGCCTGTTGGAAGTTGCCTCTGCCATGCTGGGCCCTGCTGTCCTGGGCCTCA GC CTCTGGGCTCTCCTGCACCCTGGGACGGGGGCCCCATTGTGCCTGTCACAGCAACTT AGGATGAAGGGGGACTACGTGCTGGGGGGGCTGTTCCCCCTGGGCGAGGCCGAGGA GGCTGGCCTCCGCAGCCGGACACGGCCCAGCAGCCCTGTGTGCACCAGGTACAGAG G TGGGACGGCCTGGGTCGGGGTCAGGGTGACCAGGTCTGGGGTGCTCCTGAGCTGGG GCCG AGGTGGCCATCTGCGGTTCTGTGTGGCCCCAGGTTCTCCTCAAACGGCCTGCTCTGG GC ACTGGCCATGAAAATGGCCGTGGAGGAGATCAACAACAAGTCGGATCTGCTGCCCG G GCTGCGCCTGGGCTACGACCTCTTTGATACGTGCTCGGAGCCTGTGGTGGCCATGAA GCCCAGCCTCATGTTCCTGGCCAAGGCAGGCAGCCGCGACATCGCCGCCTACTGCA A CTACACGCAGTACCAGCCCCGTGTGCTGGCTGTCATCGGGCCCCACTCGTCAGAGCT CGCCATGGTCACCGGCAAGTTCTTCAGCTTCTTCCTCATGCCCCAGTGGGGCGCCCC C CACCATCACCCACCCCCAACCAACCCCTGCCCCGTGGGAGCCCCTTGTGTCAGGAGA ATGC hT1R3 genomic DNA - 3′ contig (SEQ ID NO 2) . . . TACATGCACCCCACCCAGCCCTGCCCTGGGAGCCCTGTGTCAGAAGATGC (SEQ ID NO 2) TCTTGGCCTTGCAGGTCAGCTACGGTGCTAGCATGGAGCTGCTGAGCGCCCGGGAGA C CTTCCCCTCCTTCTTCCGCACCGTGCCCAGCGACCGTGTGCAGCTGACGGCCGCCGC GGAGCTGCTGCAGGAGTTCGGCTGGAACTGGGTGGCCGCCCTGGGCAGCGACGACG AGTACGGCCGGCAGGGCCTGAGCATCTTCTCGGCCCTGGCCGCGGCACGCGGCATC T GCATCGCGCACGAGGGCCTGGTGCCGCTGCCCCGTGCCGATGACTCGCGGCTGGGG AAGGTGCAGGACGTCCTGCACCAGGTGAACCAGAGCAGCGTGCAGGTGGTGCTGCT GTTCGCCTCCGTGCACGCCGCCCACGCCCTCTTCAACTACAGCATCAGCAGCAGGCT CTCGCCCAAGGTGTGGGTGGCCAGCGAGGCCTGGCTGACCTCTGACCTGGTCATGG G GCTGCCCGGCATGGCCCAGATGGGCACGGTGCTTGGCTTCCTCCAGAGGGGTGCCC A GCTGCACGAGTTCCCCCAGTACGTGAAGACGCACCTGGCCCTGGCCACCGACCCGG C CTTCTGCTCTGCCCTGGGCGAGAGGGAGCAGGGTCTGGAGGAGGACGTGGTGGGCC AGCGCTGCCCGCAGTGTGACTGCATCACGCTGCAGAACGTGAGCGCAGGGCTAAAT C ACCACCAGACGTTCTCTGTCTACGCAGCTGTGTATAGCGTGGCCCAGGCCCTGCACA ACACTCTTCAGTGCAACGCCTCAGGCTGCCCCGCGCAGGACCCCGTGAAGCCCTGGC AGGTGAGCCCGGGAGATGGGGGTGTGCTGTCCTCTGCATGTGCCCAGGCCACCAGG CACG GCCACCACGCCTGAGCTGGAGGTGGCTGGCGGCTCAGCCCCGTCCCCCGCCCGCAG CTCC TGGAGAACATGTACAACCTGACCTTCCACGTGGGCGGGCTGCCGCTGCGGTTCGAC A GCAGCGGAAACGTGGACATGGAGTACGACCTGAAGCTGTGGGTGTGGCAGGGCTCA GTGCCCAGGCTCCACGACGTGGGCAGGTTCAACGGCAGCCTCAGGACAGAGCGCCT GAAGATCCGCTGGCACACGTCTGACAACCAGGTGAGGTGAGGGTGGGTGTGCCAGG CG TGCCCGTGGTAGCCCCCGCGGCAGGGCGCAGCCTGGGGGTGGGGGCCGTTCCAGTC TCCC GTGGGCATGCCCAGCCGAGCAGAGCCAGACCCCAGGCCTGTGCGCAGAAGCCCGTG TCC CGGTGCTCGCGGCAGTGCCAGGAGGGCCAGGTGCGCCGGGTCAAGGGGTTCCACTC CTGCTGCTACGACTGTGTGGACTGCGAGGCGGGCAGCTACCGGCAAAACCCAGGTG A GCCGCCTTCCCGGCAGGCGGGGGTGGGAACGCAGCAGGGGAGGGTCCTGCCAAGTC CTGA CTCTGAGACCAGAGCCCACAGGGTACAAGACGAACACCCAGCGCCCTTCTCCTCTCT CACA GACGACATCGCCTGCACCTTTTGTGGCCAGGATGAGTGGTCCCCGGAGCGAAGCAC A CGCTGCTTCCGCCGCAGGTCTCGGTTCCTGGCATGGGGCGAGCCGGCTGTGCTGCTG CTGCTCCTGCTGCTGAGCCTGGCGCTGGGCCTTGTGCTGGCTGCTTTGGGGCTGTTC GTTCACCATCGGGACAGCCCACTGGTTCAGGCCTCGGGGGGGCCCCTGGCCTGCTTT GGCCTGGTGTGCCTGGGCCTGGTCTGCCTCAGCGTCCTCCTGTTCCCTGGCCAGCCC AGCCCTGCCCGATGCCTGGCCCAGCAGCCCTTGTCCCACCTCCCGCTCACGGGCTGC CTGAGCACACTCTTCCTGCAGGCGGCCGAGATCTTCGTGGAGTCAGAACTGCCTCTG AGCTGGGCAGACCGGCTGAGTGGCTGCCTGCGGGGGCCCTGGGCCTGGCTGGTGGT GCTGCTGGCCATGCTGGTGGAGGTCGCACTGTGCACCTGGTACCTGGTGGCCTTCCC GCCGGAGGTGGTGACGGACTGGCACATGCTGCCCACGGAGGCGCTGGTGCACTGCC GCACACGCTCCTGGGTCAGCTTCGGCCTAGCGCACGCCACCAATGCCACGCTGGCCT TTCTCTGCTTCCTGGGCACTTTCCTGGTGCGGAGCCAGCCGGGCTGCTACAACCGTG CCCGTGGCCTCACCTTTGCCATGCTGGCCTACTTCATCACCTGGGTCTCCTTTGTGCC CCTCCTGGCCAATGTGCAGGTGGTCCTCAGGCCCGCCGTGCAGATGGGCGCCCTCCT GCTCTGTGTCCTGGGCATCCTGGCTGCCTTCCACCTGCCCAGGTGTTACCTGCTCATG CGGCAGCCAGGGCTCAACACCCCCGAGTTCTTCCTGGGAGGGGGCCCTGGGGATGC CCAAGGCCAGAATGACGGGAACACAGGAAATCAGGGGAAACATGAGTGACCCAAC CC TGTGATCTCAGCCCCGGTGAACCCAGACTTAGCTGCGATCCCCCCCAAGCCAGCAAT GACC CGTGTCTCGCTACAGAGACCCTCCCGCTCTAGGTTCTGACCCCAGGTTGTCTCCTGA CCCT GACCCCACAGTGAGCCCTAGGCCTGGAGCACGTGGACACCCCTGTGACCATC hT1R3 full-length genomic DNA (SEQ ID NO 20) AGCCTGGCAGTGGCCTCAGGCAGAGTCTGACGCGCACAAACTTTCAGGCCCAGGAA (SEQ ID NO 20) GCGA GGACACCACTGGGGCCCCAGGGTGTGGCAAGTGAGGATGGCAAGGGTTTTGCTAAA CAAA TCCTCTGCCCGCTCCCCGCCCCGGGCTCACTCCATGTGAGGCCCCAGTCGGGGCAGC CACC TGCCGTGCCTGTTGGAAGTTGCCTCTGCCATGCTGGGCCCTGCTGTCCTGGGCCTCA GC CTCTGGGCTCTCCTGCACCCTGGGACGGGGGCCCCATTGTGCCTGTCACAGCAACTT AGGATGAAGGGGGACTACGTGCTGGGGGGGCTGTTCCCCCTGGGCGAGGCCGAGGA GGCTGGCCTCCGCAGCCGGACACGGCCCAGCAGCCCTGTGTGCACCAGGTACAGAG G TGGGACGGCCTGGGTCGGGGTCAGGGTGACCAGGTCTGGGGTGCTCCTGAGCTGGG GCCG AGGTGGCCATCTGCGGTTCTGTGTGGCCCCAGGTTCTCCTCAAACGGCCTGCTCTGG GC ACTGGCCATGAAAATGGCCGTGGAGGAGATCAACAACAAGTCGGATCTGCTGCCCG G GCTGCGCCTGGGCTACGACCTCTTTGATACGTGCTCGGAGCCTGTGGTGGCCATGAA GCCCAGCCTCATGTTCCTGGCCAAGGCAGGCAGCCGCGACATCGCCGCCTACTGCA A CTACACGCAGTACCAGCCCCGTGTGCTGGCTGTCATCGGGCCCCACTCGTCAGAGCT CGCCATGGTCACCGGCAAGTTCTTCAGCTTCTTCCTCATGCCCCAGTGGGGCGCCCC C CACCATCACCCACCCCCAACCAACCCCTGCCCCGTGGGAGCCCCTTGTGTCAGGAGA ATGC TACATGCACCCCACCCAGCCCTGCCCTGGGAGCCCTGTGTCAGAAGATGCTCTTGGC CTTG CAGGTCAGCTACGGTGCTAGCATGGAGCTGCTGAGCGCCCGGGAGACCTTCCCCTCC TTCTTCCGCACCGTGCCCAGCGACCGTGTGCAGCTGACGGCCGCCGCGGAGCTGCTG CAGGAGTTCGGCTGGAACTGGGTGGCCGCCCTGGGCAGCGACGACGAGTACGGCCG GCAGGGCCTGAGCATCTTCTCGGCCCTGGCCGCGGCACGCGGCATCTGCATCGCGCA CGAGGGCCTGGTGCCGCTGCCCCGTGCCGATGACTCGCGGCTGGGGAAGGTGCAGG ACGTCCTGCACCAGGTGAACCAGAGCAGCGTGCAGGTGGTGCTGCTGTTCGCCTCCG TGCACGCCGCCCACGCCCTCTTCAACTACAGCATCAGCAGCAGGCTCTCGCCCAAGG TGTGGGTGGCCAGCGAGGCCTGGCTGACCTCTGACCTGGTCATGGGGCTGCCCGGC A TGGCCCAGATGGGCACGGTGCTTGGCTTCCTCCAGAGGGGTGCCCAGCTGCACGAG T TCCCCCAGTACGTGAAGACGCACCTGGCCCTGGCCACCGACCCGGCCTTCTGCTCTG CCCTGGGCGAGAGGGAGCAGGGTCTGGAGGAGGACGTGGTGGGCCAGCGCTGCCC G CAGTGTGACTGCATCACGCTGCAGAACGTGAGCGCAGGGCTAAATCACCACCAGAC G TTCTCTGTCTACGCAGCTGTGTATAGCGTGGCCCAGGCCCTGCACAACACTCTTCAG T GCAACGCCTCAGGCTGCCCCGCGCAGGACCCCGTGAAGCCCTGGCAGGTGAGCCCG G GAGATGGGGGTGTGCTGTCCTCTGCATGTGCCCAGGCCACCAGGCACGGCCACCAC GCCT GAGCTGGAGGTGGCTGGCGGCTCAGCCCCGTCCCCCGCCCGCAGCTCCTGGAGAAC ATGT ACAACCTGACCTTCCACGTGGGCGGGCTGCCGCTGCGGTTCGACAGCAGCGGAAAC G TGGACATGGAGTACGACCTGAAGCTGTGGGTGTGGCAGGGCTCAGTGCCCAGGCTC C ACGACGTGGGCAGGTTCAACGGCAGCCTCAGGACAGAGCGCCTGAAGATCCGCTGG CACACGTCTGACAACCAGGTGAGGTGAGGGTGGGTGTGCCAGGCGTGCCCGTGGTA GCC CCCGCGGCAGGGCGCAGCCTGGGGGTGGGGGCCGTTCCAGTCTCCCGTGGGCATGC CCAG CCGAGCAGAGCCAGACCCCAGGCCTGTGCGCAGAAGCCCGTGTCCCGGTGCTCGCG GC AGTGCCAGGAGGGCCAGGTGCGCCGGGTCAAGGGGTTCCACTCCTGCTGCTACGAC T GTGTGGACTGCGAGGCGGGCAGCTACCGGCAAAACCCAGGTGAGCCGCCTTCCCGG CA GGCGGGGGTGGGAACGCAGCAGGGGAGGGTCCTGCCAAGTCCTGACTCTGAGACCA GAGC CCACAGGGTACAAGACGAACACCCAGCGCCCTTCTCCTCTCTCACAGACGACATCGC CTG CACCTTTTGTGGCCAGGATGAGTGGTCCCCGGAGCGAAGCACACGCTGCTTCCGCCG CAGGTCTCGGTTCCTGGCATGGGGCGAGCCGGCTGTGCTGCTGCTGCTCCTGCTGCT GAGCCTGGCGCTGGGCCTTGTGCTGGCTGCTTTGGGGCTGTTCGTTCACCATCGGGA CAGCCCACTGGTTCAGGCCTCGGGGGGGCCCCTGGCCTGCTTTGGCCTGGTGTGCCT GGGCCTGGTCTGCCTCAGCGTCCTCCTGTTCCCTGGCCAGCCCAGCCCTGCCCGATG CCTGGCCCAGCAGCCCTTGTCCCACCTCCCGCTCACGGGCTGCCTGAGCACACTCTT CCTGCAGGCGGCCGAGATCTTCGTGGAGTCAGAACTGCCTCTGAGCTGGGCAGACC G GCTGAGTGGCTGCCTGCGGGGGCCCTGGGCCTGGCTGGTGGTGCTGCTGGCCATGCT GGTGGAGGTCGCACTGTGCACCTGGTACCTGGTGGCCTTCCCGCCGGAGGTGGTGAC GGACTGGCACATGCTGCCCACGGAGGCGCTGGTGCACTGCCGCACACGCTCCTGGG T CAGCTTCGGCCTAGCGCACGCCACCAATGCCACGCTGGCCTTTCTCTGCTTCCTGGG CACTTTCCTGGTGCGGAGCCAGCCGGGCTGCTACAACCGTGCCCGTGGCCTCACCTT TGCCATGCTGGCCTACTTCATCACCTGGGTCTCCTTTGTGCCCCTCCTGGCCAATGTG CAGGTGGTCCTCAGGCCCGCCGTGCAGATGGGCGCCCTCCTGCTCTGTGTCCTGGGC ATCCTGGCTGCCTTCCACCTGCCCAGGTGTTACCTGCTCATGCGGCAGCCAGGGCTC AACACCCCCGAGTTCTTCCTGGGAGGGGGCCCTGGGGATGCCCAAGGCCAGAATGA C GGGAACACAGGAAATCAGGGGAAACATGAGTGACCCAACCCTGTGATCTCAGCCCC GG TGAACCCAGACTTAGCTGCGATCCCCCCCAAGCCAGCAATGACCCGTGTCTCGCTAC AGAG ACCCTCCCGCTCTAGGTTCTGACCCCAGGTTGTCTCCTGACCCTGACCCCACAGTGA GCCC TAGGCCTGGAGCACGTGGACACCCCTGTGACCATC hT1R3 predicted cds (SEQ ID NO 3) ATGCTGGGCCCTGCTGTCCTGGGCCTCAGCCTCTGGGCTCTCCTGCACCCTGGGACG (SEQ ID NO 3) GGGG CCCCATTGTGCCTGTCACAGCAACTTAGGATGAAGGGGGACTACGTGCTGGGGGGG CTGT TCCCCCTGGGCGAGGCCGAGGAGGCTGGCCTCCGCAGCCGGACACGGCCCAGCAGC CCTG TGTGCACCAGGTTCTCCTCAAACGGCCTGCTCTGGGCACTGGCCATGAAAATGGCCG TGGA GGAGATCAACAACAAGTCGGATCTGCTGCCCGGGCTGCGCCTGGGCTACGACCTCTT TGAT ACGTGCTCGGAGCCTGTGGTGGCCATGAAGCCCAGCCTCATGTTCCTGGCCAAGGCA GGC AGCCGCGACATCGCCGCCTACTGCAACTACACGCAGTACCAGCCCCGTGTGCTGGCT GTCA TCGGGCCCCACTCGTCAGAGCTCGCCATGGTCACCGGCAAGTTCTTCAGCTTCTTCC TCAT GCCCCACTACGGTGCTAGCATGGAGCTGCTGAGCGCCCGGGAGACCTTCCCCTCCTT CTTC CGCACCGTGCCCAGCGACCGTGTGCAGCTGACGGCCGCCGCGGAGCTGCTGCAGGA GTTC GGCTGGAACTGGGTGGCCGCCCTGGGCAGCGACGACGAGTACGGCCGGCAGGGCCT GAGC ATCTTCTCGGCCCTGGCCGCGGCACGCGGCATCTGCATCGCGCACGAGGGCCTGGTG CCGC TGCCCCGTGCCGATGACTCGCGGCTGGGGAAGGTGCAGGACGTCCTGCACCAGGTG AACC AGAGCAGCGTGCAGGTGGTGCTGCTGTTCGCCTCCGTGCACGCCGCCCACGCCCTCT TCAA CTACAGCATCAGCAGCAGGCTCTCGCCCAAGGTGTGGGTGGCCAGCGAGGCCTGGC TGAC CTCTGACCTGGTCATGGGGCTGCCCGGCATGGCCCAGATGGGCACGGTGCTTGGCTT CCTC CAGAGGGGTGCCCAGCTGCACGAGTTCCCCCAGTACGTGAAGACGCACCTGGCCCT GGCC ACCGACCCGGCCTTCTGCTCTGCCCTGGGCGAGAGGGAGCAGGGTCTGGAGGAGGA CGTG GTGGGCCAGCGCTGCCCGCAGTGTGACTGCATCACGCTGCAGAACGTGAGCGCAGG GCTA AATCACCACCAGACGTTCTCTGTCTACGCAGCTGTGTATAGCGTGGCCCAGGCCCTG CACA ACACTCTTCAGTGCAACGCCTCAGGCTGCCCCGCGCAGGACCCCGTGAAGCCCTGGC AGCT CCTGGAGAACATGTACAACCTGACCTTCCACGTGGGCGGGCTGCCGCTGCGGTTCGA CAGC AGCGGAAACGTGGACATGGAGTACGACCTGAAGCTGTGGGTGTGGCAGGGCTCAGT GCCC AGGCTCCACGACGTGGGCAGGTTCAACGGCAGCCTCAGGACAGAGCGCCTGAAGAT CCGC TGGCACACGTCTGACAACCAGAAGCCCGTGTCCCGGTGCTCGCGGCAGTGCCAGGA GGGC CAGGTGCGCCGGGTCAAGGGGTTCCACTCCTGCTGCTACGACTGTGTGGACTGCGAG GCG GGCAGCTACCGGCAAAACCCAGACGACATCGCCTGCACCTTTTGTGGCCAGGATGA GTGG TCCCCGGAGCGAAGCACACGCTGCTTCCGCCGCAGGTCTCGGTTCCTGGCATGGGGC GAGC CGGCTGTGCTGCTGCTGCTCCTGCTGCTGAGCCTGGCGCTGGGCCTTGTGCTGGCTG CTTT GGGGCTGTTCGTTCACCATCGGGACAGCCCACTGGTTCAGGCCTCGGGGGGGCCCCT GGCC TGCTTTGGCCTGGTGTGCCTGGGCCTGGTCTGCCTCAGCGTCCTCCTGTTCCCTGGCC AGCC CAGCCCTGCCCGATGCCTGGCCCAGCAGCCCTTGTCCCACCTCCCGCTCACGGGCTG CCTG AGCACACTCTTCCTGCAGGCGGCCGAGATCTTCGTGGAGTCAGAACTGCCTCTGAGC TGGG CAGACCGGCTGAGTGGCTGCCTGCGGGGGCCCTGGGCCTGGCTGGTGGTGCTGCTG GCCA TGCTGGTGGAGGTCGCACTGTGCACCTGGTACCTGGTGGCCTTCCCGCCGGAGGTGG TGAC GGACTGGCACATGCTGCCCACGGAGGCGCTGGTGCACTGCCGCACACGCTCCTGGG TCAG CTTCGGCCTAGCGCACGCCACCAATGCCACGCTGGCCTTTCTCTGCTTCCTGGGCAC TTTCC TGGTGCGGAGCCAGCCGGGCTGCTACAACCGTGCCCGTGGCCTCACCTTTGCCATGC TGGC CTACTTCATCACCTGGGTCTCCTTTGTGCCCCTCCTGGCCAATGTGCAGGTGGTCCTC AGGC CCGCCGTGCAGATGGGCGCCCTCCTGCTCTGTGTCCTGGGCATCCTGGCTGCCTTCC ACCT GCCCAGGTGTTACCTGCTCATGCGGCAGCCAGGGCTCAACACCCCCGAGTTCTTCCT GGGA GGGGGCCCTGGGGATGCCCAAGGCCAGAATGACGGGAACACAGGAAATCAGGGGA AACA TGAGTGA hT1R3 conceptual translation (SEQ ID NO 4) MLGPAVLGLSLWALLHPGTGAPLCLSQQLRMKGDYVLGGLFPLGEAEEAGLRSRTRPS (SEQ ID NO 4) SPVCT RFSSNGLLWALAMKMAVEEINNKSDLLPGLRLGYDLFDTCSEPVVAMKPSLMFLAKAG SRDI AAYCNYTQYQPRVLAVIGPHSSELAMVTGKFFSFFLMPHYGASMELLSARETFPSFFRT VPSDR VQLTAAAELLQEFGWNWVAALGSDDEYGRQGLSIFSALAAARGICIAHEGLVPLPRAD DSRLG KVQDVLHQVNQSSVQVVLLFASVHAAHALFNYSISSRLSPKVWVASEAWLTSDLVMGL PGM AQMGTVLGFLQRGAQLHEFPQYVKTHLALATDPAFCSALGEREQGLEEDVVGQRCPQC DCIT LQNVSAGLNHHQTFSVYAAVYSVAQALHNTLQCNASGCPAQDPVKPWQLLENMYNLT FHVG GLPLRFDSSGNVDMEYDLKLWVWQGSVPRLHDVGRFNGSLRTERLKIRWHTSDNQKP VSRCS RQCQEGQVRRVKGFHSCCYDCVDCEAGSYRQNPDDIACTFCGQDEWSPERSTRCFRRR SRFLA WGEPAVLLLLLLLSLALGLVLAALGLFVHHRDSPLVQASGGPLACFGLVCLGLVCLSVL LFPG QPSPARCLAQQPLSHLPLTGCLSTLFLQAAEIFVESELPLSWADRLSGCLRGPWAWLVVL LAML VEVALCTWYLVAFPPEVVTDWHMLPTEALVHCRTRSWVSFGLAHATNATLAFLCFLGT FLVR SQPGCYNRARGLTFAMLAYFITWVSFVPLLANVQVVLRPAVQMGALLLCVLGILAAFH LPRCY LLMRQPGLNTPEFFLGGGPGDAQGQNDGNTGNQGKHE

Example 2 rT1R3 and mT1R3

Segments of the rat and mouse T1R3 genes were isolated by PCR amplification from genomic DNA using degenerate primers based on the human T1R3 sequence.

TABLE-US-00002 The degenerate primers SAP077 (5′- CGNTTYYTNGCNTGGGGNGARCC-3′; SEQ ID NO 5) and SAP079 (5′- CGNGCNCGRTTRTARCANCCNGG-3′; SEQ ID NO 6) are complementary to human T1R3 residues RFLAWGEPA (corresponding to SEQ ID NO 7) and PGCYNRAR (corresponding to SEQ ID NO 8), respectively.

The PCR products were cloned and sequenced. Plasmid SAVI 15 carries a cloned segment of the mouse T1R3 gene, and SAVI 18 carries a segment of the rat gene. These sequences, shown below, clearly represent the rodent counterparts of human T1R3, since the mouse segment is 74% identical to the corresponding segment of human T1R3, and the rat segment is 80% identical to the corresponding segment of human T1R3. The mouse and rat segments are 88% identical. No other database sequences are more than 40% identical to these T1R3 segments.

TABLE-US-00003 SAVI 15 mouse T1R3 segment in sense orientation (sequence corresponding to degenerate primer removed) (SEQ ID NO 9) GTGCTGTCACTCCTCCTGCTGCTTTGCCTGGTGCTGGGTCTAGCACTGGCTGCTCTGG (SEQ ID NO 9) GGCT CTCTGTCCACCACTGGGACAGCCCTCTTGTCCAGGCCTCAGGCGGCTCACAGTTCTG CTTT GGCCTGATCTGCCTAGGCCTCTTCTGCCTCAGTGTCCTTCTGTTCCCAGGACGGCCAA GCTC TGCCAGCTGCCTTGCACAACAACCAATGGCTCACCTCCCTCTCACAGGCTGCCTGAG CACA CTCTTCCTGCAAGCAGCTGAGACCTTTGTGGAGTCTGAGCTGCCACTGAGCTGGGCA AACT GGCTATGCAGCTACCTTCGGGACTCTGGCCTGCTAGTGGTACTGTTGGCCACTTTTGT GGA GGCAGCACTATGTGCCTGGTATTTGACCGCTTCACCAGAAGTGGTGACAGACTGGTC AGTG CTGCCCACAGAGGTACTGGAGCACTGCCACGTGCGTTCCTGGGTCAACCTGGGCTTG GTGC ACATCACCAATGCAATGGTAGCTTTTCTCTGCTTTCTGGGCACTTTCCTGGTACAAGA CCAG mT1R3 segment, conceptual translation (SEQ ID NO 10) VLSLLLLLCLVLGLALAALGLSVHHWDSPLVQASGGSQFCFGLICLGLFCLSVLLFPGRP (SEQ ID NO 10) SSASC LAQQPMAHLPLTGCLSTLFLQAAETFVESELPLSWANWLCSYLRDSGLLVVLLATFVEA ALCA WYLTASPEVVTDWSVLPTEVLEHCHVRSWVNLGLVHITNAMVAFLCFLGTFLVQDQ SAV118 rat T1R3 segment in sense orientation (sequence (SEQ ID NO 11) corresponding to degenerate primer removed) GTGCTGTCACTTCTCCTGCTGCTTTGCCTGGTGCTGGGCCTGACACTGGCTGCCCTGG (SEQ ID NO 11) GGC TCTTTGTCCACTACTGGGACAGCCCTCTTGTTCAGGCCTCAGGTGGGTCACTGTTCTG CTTT GGCCTGATCTGCCTAGGCCTCTTCTGCCTCAGTGTCCTTCTGTTCCCAGGACGACCAC GCTC TGCCAGCTGCCTTGCCCAACAACCAATGGCTCACCTCCCTCTCACAGGCTGCCTGAG CACA CTCTTCCTGCAAGCAGCCGAGATCTTTGTGGAGTCTGAGCTGCCACTGAGTTGGGCA AACT GGCTCTGCAGCTACCTTCGGGGCCCCTGGGCTTGGCTGGTGGTACTGCTGGCCACTC TTGT GGAGGCTGCACTATGTGCCTGGTACTTGATGGCTTTCCCTCCAGAGGTGGTGACAGA TTGG CAGGTGCTGCCCACGGAGGTACTGGAACACTGCCGCATGCGTTCCTGGGTCAGCCTG GGCT TGGTGCACATCACCAATGCAGGGGTAGCTTTCCTCTGCTTTCTGGGCACTTTCCTGGT ACA AAGCCAG rT1R3 segment, conceptual translation (SEQ ID NO 12) VLSLLLLLCLVLGLTLAALGLFVHYWDSPLVQASGGSLFCFGLICLGLFCLSVLLFPGRP (SEQ ID NO 12) RSASC LAQQPMAHLPLTGCLSTLFLQAAEIFVESELPLSWANWLCSYLRGPWAWLVVLLATLV EAAL CAWYLMAFPPEVVTDWQVLPTEVLEHCRMRSWVSLGLVHITNAGVAFLCFLGTFLVQS Q

Example 3 Cloning of rT1R3

The mT1R3 and rT1R3 fragments identified above as SEQ ID NOs 9 and 11 were used to screen a rat taste tissue-derived cDNA library. One positive clone was sequenced and found to contain the full-length rT1R3 sequence presented below as SEQ ID NO 13. Sequence comparison to the mT1R3 and rT1R3 partial sequences and to the full-length hT1R3 sequence established that this cDNA represents the rat counterpart to hT1R3. For example, the pairwise amino acid identity between rT1R3 and hT1R3 is approximately 72%, whereas the most related annotated sequence in public DNA sequence data banks is only approximately 33% identical to rT1R3.

TABLE-US-00004 rT1R3 predicted cds (SEQ. ID NO. 13) ATGCCGGGTTTGGCTATCTTGGGCCTCAGTCTGGCTGCTTTCCTGGAGCTTGGGATG (SEQ ID NO 13) GGGT CCTCTTTGTGTCTGTCACAGCAATTCAAGGCACAAGGGGACTATATATTGGGTGGAC TATT TCCCCTGGGCACAACTGAGGAGGCCACTCTCAACCAGAGAACACAGCCCAACGGCA TCCT ATGTACCAGGTTCTCGCCCCTTGGTTTGTTCCTGGCCATGGCTATGAAGATGGCTGTA GAG GAGATCAACAATGGATCTGCCTTGCTCCCTGGGCTGCGACTGGGCTATGACCTGTTT GACA CATGCTCAGAGCCAGTGGTCACCATGAAGCCCAGCCTCATGTTCATGGCCAAGGTG GGAA GTCAAAGCATTGCTGCCTACTGCAACTACACACAGTACCAACCCCGTGTGCTGGCTG TCAT TGGTCCCCACTCATCAGAGCTTGCCCTCATTACAGGCAAGTTCTTCAGCTTCTTCCTC ATGC CACAGGTCAGCTATAGTGCCAGCATGGATCGGCTAAGTGACCGGGAAACATTTCCA TCCTT CTTCCGCACAGTGCCCAGTGACCGGGTGCAGCTGCAGGCCGTTGTGACACTGTTGCA GAAT TTCAGCTGGAACTGGGTGGCTGCCTTAGGTAGTGATGATGACTATGGCCGGGAAGGT CTG AGCATCTTTTCTGGTCTGGCCAACTCACGAGGTATCTGCATTGCACACGAGGGCCTG GTGC CACAACATGACACTAGTGGCCAACAATTGGGCAAGGTGGTGGATGTGCTACGCCAA GTGA ACCAAAGCAAAGTACAGGTGGTGGTGCTGTTTGCATCTGCCCGTGCTGTCTACTCCC TTTT TAGCTACAGCATCCTTCATGACCTCTCACCCAAGGTATGGGTGGCCAGTGAGTCCTG GCTG ACCTCTGACCTGGTCATGACACTTCCCAATATTGCCCGTGTGGGCACTGTTCTTGGGT TTCT GCAGCGCGGTGCCCTACTGCCTGAATTTTCCCATTATGTGGAGACTCGCCTTGCCCT AGCT GCTGACCCAACATTCTGTGCCTCCCTGAAAGCTGAGTTGGATCTGGAGGAGCGCGTG ATGG GGCCACGCTGTTCACAATGTGACTACATCATGCTACAGAACCTGTCATCTGGGCTGA TGCA GAACCTATCAGCTGGGCAGTTGCACCACCAAATATTTGCAACCTATGCAGCTGTGTA CAGT GTGGCTCAGGCCCTTCACAACACCCTGCAGTGCAATGTCTCACATTGCCACACATCA GAGC CTGTTCAACCCTGGCAGCTCCTGGAGAACATGTACAATATGAGTTTCCGTGCTCGAG ACTT GACACTGCAGTTTGATGCCAAAGGGAGTGTAGACATGGAATATGACCTGAAGATGT GGGT GTGGCAGAGCCCTACACCTGTACTACATACTGTAGGCACCTTCAACGGCACCCTTCA GCTG CAGCACTCGAAAATGTATTGGCCAGGCAACCAGGTGCCAGTCTCCCAGTGCTCCCG GCAGT GCAAAGATGGCCAGGTGCGCAGAGTAAAGGGCTTTCATTCCTGCTGCTATGACTGTG TGG ACTGCAAGGCAGGGAGCTACCGGAAGCATCCAGATGACTTCACCTGTACTCCATGT GGCA AGGATCAGTGGTCCCCAGAAAAAAGCACAACCTGCTTACCTCGCAGGCCCAAGTTT CTGGC TTGGGGGGAGCCAGCTGTGCTGTCACTTCTCCTGCTGCTTTGCCTGGTGCTGGGCCTG ACA CTGGCTGCCCTGGGGCTCTTTGTCCACTACTGGGACAGCCCTCTTGTTCAGGCCTCA GGTG GGTCACTGTTCTGCTTTGGCCTGATCTGCCTAGGCCTCTTCTGCCTCAGTGTCCTTCT GTTC CCAGGACGACCACGCTCTGCCAGCTGCCTTGCCCAACAACCAATGGCTCACCTCCCT CTCA CAGGCTGCCTGAGCACACTCTTCCTGCAAGCAGCCGAGATCTTTGTGGAGTCTGAGC TGCC ACTGAGTTGGGCAAACTGGCTCTGCAGCTACCTTCGGGGCCCCTGGGCTTGGCTGGT GGTA CTGCTGGCCACTCTTGTGGAGGCTGCACTATGTGCCTGGTACTTGATGGCTTTCCCTC CAG AGGTGGTGACAGATTGGCAGGTGCTGCCCACGGAGGTACTGGAACACTGCCGCATG CGTT CCTGGGTCAGCCTGGGCTTGGTGCACATCACCAATGCAGTGTTAGCTTTCCTCTGCTT TCTG GGCACTTTCCTGGTACAGAGCCAGCCTGGTCGCTATAACCGTGCCCGTGGCCTCACC TTCG CCATGCTAGCTTATTTCATCATCTGGGTCTCTTTTGTGCCCCTCCTGGCTAATGTGCA GGTG GCCTACCAGCCAGCTGTGCAGATGGGTGCTATCTTATTCTGTGCCCTGGGCATCCTG GCCA CCTTCCACCTGCCCAAATGCTATGTACTTCTGTGGCTGCCAGAGCTCAACACCCAGG AGTT CTTCCTGGGAAGGAGCCCCAAGGAAGCATCAGATGGGAATAGTGGTAGTAGTGAGG CAAC TCGGGGACACAGTGAATGA rT1R3 conceptual translation (SEQ. ID NO. 14) MPGLAILGLSLAAFLELGMGSSLCLSQQFKAQGDYILGGLFPLGTTEEATLNQRTQPNGI (SEQ ID NO 14) LCTRF SPLGLFLAMAMKMAVEEJNNGSALLPGLRLGYDLFDTCSEPVVTMKPSLMFMAKVGSQ SIAA YCNYTQYQPRVLAVIGPHSSELALITGKFFSFFLMPQVSYSASMDRLSDRETFPSFFRTVP SDRV QLQAVVTLLQNFSWNWVAALGSDDDYGREGLSIFSGLANSRGICIAHEGLVPQHDTSGQ QLG KVVDVLRQVNQSKVQVVVLFASARAVYSLFSYSILHDLSPKVWVASESWLTSDLVMTL PNIA RVGTVLGFLQRGALLPEFSHYVETRLALAADPTFCASLKAELDLEERVMGPRCSQCDYI MLQN LSSGLMQNLSAGQLHHQIFATYAAVYSVAQALHNTLQCNVSHCHTSEPVQPWQLLEN MYNM SFRARDLTLQFDAKGSVDMEYDLKMWVWQSPTPVLHTVGTFNGTLQLQHSKMYWPG NQVP VSQCSRQCKDGQVRRVKGFHSCCYDCVDCKAGSYRKHPDDFTCTPCGKDQWSPEKST TCLPR RPKFLAWGEPAVLSLLLLLCLVLGLTLAALGLFVHYWDSPLVQASGGSLFCFGLICLGLF CLSV LLFPGRPRSASCLAQQPMAHLPLTGCLSTLFLQAAEIFVESELPLSWANWLCSYLRGPW AWLV VLLATLVEAALCAWYLMAFPPEVVTDWQVLPTEVLEHCRMRSWVSLGLVHITNAVLA FLCFL GTFLVQSQPGRYNRARGLTFAMLAYFIIWVSFVPLLANVQVAYQPAVQMGAILFCALGI LATF HLPKCYVLLWLPELNTQEFFLGRSPKEASDGNSGSSEATRGHSE

Example 4 Expression of mT1R3

The above described mouse T1R3 fragment contained in SAV115 was PCR amplified using M13forward and M13reverse primers and then gel purified. The T1R3 DNA template was placed into an in vitro transcription labeling reaction where Digoxigenin labeled UTP was incorporated into an antisense cRNA probe. This probe was hybridized to adult mouse taste tissue containing cicumvallate papillae. The T1R3 in situ hybridization and detection were performed following the protocol of Schaeren-Wiemers et al., Histochemistry, 100:431-400 (1993). Briefly, fresh frozen mouse tongue was sectioned at 14 .mu.m and prepared for hybridization. 200 ng/mL of the antisense Digoxigenin T1R3 probe was hybridized for 14 hours at 72.degree. C. Posthybridization consisted of a 0.2.times.SSC wash at 72.degree. C. Digoxigenin detection was accomplished by incubation with 1:5000 dilution of anti-DIG Alkaline Phosphatase antibody followed by a 12-hour reaction of the phosphatase in NBT/BCIP. FIG. 1 shows T1R3 gene expression in taste buds of mouse circumvallate papillae.

Example 5 hT1R1

The human ortholog (Database accession no. AL159177) of a rat taste receptor, designated rT1R1, is provided below as SEQ ID NO 15. Predicted cds are indicated in bold and some intronic sequence intervals are denoted as runs of N. The nucleotide and conceptually-translated hT1R1 sequences are also described herein as SEQ ID NO 16 and 17, respectively

TABLE-US-00005 hT1R1 genomic DNA (SEQ ID NO 15) GAGAATCTCGCGAGATCCCGTCGGTCCGCCCCGCTGCCCTCCCAGCTGCCGAAAAG (SEQ ID NO 15) AGGG GCCTCCGAGCCGCCGGCGCCCTCTGCCGGCAACCTCCGGAAGCACACTAGGAGGTT CCAG CCGATCTGGTCGAGGGGCTCCACGGAGGACTCCATTTACGTTACGCAAATTCCCTAC CCCA GCCGGCCGGAGAGAGAAAGCCAGAAACCTCGCGACCAGCCATGGGCCACCTCTCCG GAAA AACACCGGGATATTTTTTTTCTCCTGCAGAAAAAGCTTTAGGATTGGCAGTTTAAAC AAAA CATGTCTATTTGCATACCTTCGGTTTGCATGCATTTGTTTCGAAGTGAGCAACCCTGG GTA ACAAGGCGAAAGTATATGACAATTTGCTCAGAATCTTAATGTCAGAAAACTGGAGA CTGG GGCAGGGGGGTGTCGACTCAAAGCTGTGTCTCATTTAGTAAACTGAGGCCCAGGTA AAAA GTTCTGAAACCTCGCAACACCCGGAGAAATTGTGTTCCAGCCTCCCACCTCGCCCCA AAAT GCCAGAGCTCCTTTTCTAAGCCAGGTGAAGTCACAGAGCGTGGACAGAACCCACAA CCGT CCAGAGGAAGGGTCACTGGGTGCCACCTGGTTTGCATCTGTGCCTTCGTCCTGCCCA GTTC CTGAGTGGGACCGCAGGCCCGGAATGTCAAGGCAAACAGTCCTGCTTCAGCCACTG GGCT CCAGTCCCACCCCTTTTGGGGGCCTGAAGTTAGGAAGCATCCGGCAGCTGCCTTCTA TTTA AGCAACTGGCCTCCTTAGAGGCCACTCCTTGGCCATGCCAGGCGCGGGCATCTGGCC AGCA TGCTGCTCTGCACGGCTCGCCTGGTCGGCCTGCAGCTTCTCATTTCCTGCTGCTGGG CCTTTGCCTGCCATAGCACGGAGTCTTCTCCTGACTTCACCCTCCCCGGAGATTACCT CCTGGCAGGCCTGTTCCCTCTCCATTCTGGCTGTCTGCAGGTGAGGCACAGACCCGA GGTGACCCTGTGTGACAGGTGAGTGAGGGGCCAGCAGAGCCACACTTAGTGGGACC CCT GGCTATAGGGCCCCTCTGGCTGCCATCCTCCAAACAGGACCTTGCCTCTGCCTTTGC CCCTT GAACTGTCCCCAGGCCTTGTTCATCAATCCACTTGCCACCTAAGTGCTGGCTAGACC TTCCT AGACACTTCGGCCAGTTTCCAATTATTTCACCCTTGCTGTTAGAATGTNNNNNNNNN NNNN NNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNAATTCCTTAAACTAAATT TCTC ACTTTCTCTCTCTCTCTGGAAAACACTGACTAATGTAGCAGGTTTCTCTGCTCCAGGA CTTC AGGACCTTTTCGATGCTAATAAGTTTCTCCATCAGGGCCAGCTTGTTCCTCCTACTGA GCTT GAGAGCCCTTGTTGAAGTTGTGGTTTGGGGGACTGGACCGATGACCTCAAAGGTTCC CTTT GCTCCCAAGCCTCAGAGTCTAGGAGGCCAGAGGGTCTCAGCAGGCCTTTGTCCTTCT CAGC TGTCTCTTACTGGCTTTCTCCACAGGTCTTGTAGCTTCAATGAGCATGGCTACCACCT CT TCCAGGCTATGCGGCTTGGGGTTGAGGAGATAAACAACTCCACGGCCCTGCTGCCC A ACATCACCCTGGGGTACCAGCTGTATGATGTGTGTTCTGACTCTGCCAATGTGTATG C CACGCTGAGAGTGCTCTCCCTGCCAGGGCAACACCACATAGAGCTCCAAGGAGACC T TCTCCACTATTCCCCTACGGTGCTGGCAGTGATTGGGCCTGACAGCACCAACCGTGC TGCCACCACAGCCGCCCTGCTGAGCCCTTTCCTGGTGCCCATGGTAAGCTGGAGCCT C AGACCTTTGCCCATCTCCCTTCAGGCAAGTCTGGGNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNN NNNN NNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNGCCACCATGCCCGGCTAATTTTTTTGTATTT TTAG TAGAGACGGGGTTTCACCGTGTTAGCCAGGCTGGTCGCAAACTCCTAACCTCGTGAT CCAC CCACCTCGGCCTCCCAATGTGCTGGGATTACAGGTGTGAGCCACTGCACCCGGCCAT AATG TATTAATATAATAAAATAATTATACAACTCACCATAATGTAGAATCAGTGGGAGCCC TGAG CTTGTTTTCCTACAACTAGATGGTCCCATCTGGGGGTGATGGGAGACAGTGACAGAT CATC AGACATTAGATTCTCATAAGTAGCGTGCAACCCAGATCCCTCGCATGTGCAGTTCAC AGTA GGGTTCAAGCTCCTACAAGAATCTGATGCTGCTGCTGATCTGACAGGAGGGGAGCA GCTG TAAATACAGATGAAGCTTCGCTTACTCACCAGCTGCTCACCTCCTCCTGTGAGGCCC GGTT CCTAACAGGCCACTGACCTAACTTCTGCCCTGACCTACACATGCTTCTCTTCTTCCTT GCAA ACTGCCTCCAGTGGAAGTCCCTGAAGGTCCCCAAACACACGGGACTATTTCACTCCT ATGC AGGTTTTGTCTCCTTTGCTTGGAATGCATCCCCTCACCCCTTGTCCCCAGGCAGATTC CCAC CCCTCCCCCAGAACCTGCCCCAGTGGAGCCTTCGCAGGTGATTTGTCAGTTTCACAG GCTG AGGGGTGCTCTCCTGGTCTCCCCGGCTCCCTGTATCCCCACACCCAGCACAGGGCCA GGCA CTGGGGGGGCCTTCAGTGGAGACTGAAATGGCTGAACGGGACCTCCCATAGATTAG CTAT GCGGCCAGCAGCGAGACGCTCAGCGTGAAGCGGCAGTATCCCTCTTTCCTGCGCAC C ATCCCCAATGACAAGTACCAGGTGGAGACCATGGTGCTGCTGCTGCAGAAGTTCGG G TGGACCTGGATCTCTCTGGTTGGCAGCAGTGACGACTATGGGCAGCTAGGGGTGCA G GCACTGGAGAACCAGGCCACTGGTCAGGGGATCTGCATTGCTTTCAAGGACATCAT G CCCTTCTCTGCCCAGGTGGGCGATGAGAGGATGCAGTGCCTCATGCGCCACCTGGCC CAGGCCGGGGCCACCGTCGTGGTTGTTTTTTCCAGCCGGCAGTTGGCCAGGGTGTTT TTCGAGTCCGTGGTGCTGACCAACCTGACTGGCAAGGTGTGGGTCGCCTCAGAAGCC TGGGCCCTCTCCAGGCACATCACTGGGGTGCCCGGGATCCAGCGCATTGGGATGGT G CTGGGCGTGGCCATCCAGAAGAGGGCTGTCCCTGGCCTGAAGGCGTTTGAAGAAGC C TATGCCCGGGCAGACAAGAAGGCCCCTAGGCCTTGCCACAAGGGCTCCTGGTGCAG C AGCAATCAGCTCTGCAGAGAATGCCAAGCTTTCATGGCACACACGATGCCCAAGCT C AAAGCCTTCTCCATGAGTTCTGCCTACAACGCATACCGGGCTGTGTATGCGGTGGCC CATGGCCTCCACCAGCTCCTGGGCTGTGCCTCTGGAGCTTGTTCCAGGGGCCGAGTC TACCCCTGGCAGGTAAGAGAGCCCACCCCAGCACCTCCTGTCAGGGAGAACAGCCA ATCC TGAGATGAGCAGAGTGGGCACTCTCCGGTCACTCTAAATGCCAAGGGGGATAAATG CCAC TAACTTGAGGTTTTTTGTTTTGTTTTGTTTTGTTTTTTGAGACAGTCTGGCTCTGTCAC CCA GGCTGCAGTGTAGTGATGCGATCTCGGCTCTCTGCAACTTCCACCTCCTGGGTTCAA GTGA TTCTCTTGCCTCGGCCTCCTGAGTAGCTGGGATTACAGGCACCCACCACCATGCCTG GATA ATTTTTCTTTTCTTTTTTTTTTTTTTGAGATAGAGTCTCGCTCTGTTGCCCAGGCTGGA ATGC AGTGGTGCGATCTTGGCTCACTGTGAGCTCCGCCTCCCAGGTTCACTCCATTCCCCTG CCTC AGCCTCCCAAGTAGGTGGGACTACGGGCGCCCGCCACCACGCCCAGCTAATTTTTTT TGTA TTTTGAGTAGAGACGGGGTTTCACCATGTTAGCCAGGATGGTCTCAATCTCCTGACC TTGT CATCCGCCCACCTCGTCCTCCCAAAGTGCTGGGATTACAGGCGTGAGCCACCGCACC CGGC CTAATTTTTGTATTTTTAGTAGAGATGGGGTTTCACCATGTTGGCCAGGCTGGTCTCG AAC TCCTGGCATCAAGTGATCCTCCTGCTTCGGCCTCCCAAAGTGCTGGGATTACAGGCA TTAG CTCTCTTCTCTTAGACAGATCTTTCTCTCTGATCCTTGCCTTCTCTCACCCACTGTGTC TTGG AAGTGTCAAGTGATAAGATCCAGGGCTAAAACTGTCTGTAAAGGAGTGTTTGTTAG AGGC CTCCTCTCAGGAGGTTGGTGGGGAAGATTGAGGGGCTTCCTAAGAAGGAAGGGACG AGAC CTTCCTGATGGGCTGAAACCACCAGGACGGAAACCCAGGAAGGCCCCAGGCCCTTG CTTCT GGGACCATGTGGGTCTGTGCTGTCTGTGGTGGCTTCATGATACGCGTTTCTTTCAGCT TTT GGAGCAGATCCACAAGGTGCATTTCCTTCTACACAAGGACACTGTGGCGTTTAATGA CAACAGAGATCCCCTCAGTAGCTATAACATAATTGCCTGGGACTGGAATGGACCCA A GTGGACCTTCACGGTCCTCGGTTCCTCCACATGGTCTCCAGTTCAGCTAAACATAAA T GAGACCAAAATCCAGTGGCACGGAAAGGACAACCAGGTAATGGGGATGTGGCTACT CA CCATGTAACTGGCTTATGGGCAACCTAGAGCCTGGGGGTGATGCTGACACAGTGTAC AGG GAGCAGGAGGGGGGCCCCAGGGGTCCAGCTGCCACCACTCTACCCATCCTGGCCAG GGAA GCAGGGAAGACACTCCGTAGGCGAGTGTGCAGATGCCCTGGGGCGGAAGTTCACAC GACC AGGGGCCCTGCCCTGGGAGTGAGCCCTGAGGGCAGATGCACAGAGATTCTGTTTTCT GTTC CACATGTGAGCTGTCCTTTGACTTGGGCCCCTACGTGTGGCCCCTCTGGCTTCTTACA GGT GCCTAAGTCTGTGTGTTCCAGCGACTGTCTTGAAGGGCACCAGCGAGTGGTTACGGG TTTCCATCACTGCTGCTTTGAGTGTGTGCCCTGTGGGGCTGGGACCTTCCTCAACAAG AGTGGTGAGTGGGCAATGGAGCAGGCGAGCTACCCAGCACTCCCGGGGGCTGCACG GTGG AGGGAGGGCCTCCCTTGGGCCCCATGTGCCCTGCCCCAGAACCAAGGCCCAGTCAC TGGG CTGCCAGTTAGCTTCAGGTTGGAGGACACCTGCTACCAGACAGAATTCTGATCAAGA GAAT CAGCCACTGGGTGCGGTGGCTCATGCCTGTAATCCCAGCACTTTGGGAGGCTGAGGC GGG TGGATCACTTGAGGTCGGGAGTTCGAGACCAGCCTGGCCAACATGGTGAAACCCCA TCTCT ACCAAAAATATAAAAAATTAGCTGGGTGTGGTGGCGCGTGCCTGTAATCCCAGCTA CTCG GGAGGCTGAGGCAGGAGAATCACTTGAACCCAGGAGGCGGAGGTTGCAGTGAGCC AAGA TGCATTCCAGCCTGGACCACAAAGCGAGAATTCGTCCCCCCAAAAAAAGAAAGGAG GCCG GGCGCGGTGGCTCACACCTGTAATCCCAGCACTTTGGGAGGCCGAGGTGGGTGGAT CACC TGAGGTCAGGAGTTCGAGACCAGCCTGACCAACATGGTGAAACCCCATCTCTACTA AAAA TACAAAAAAAGTTAGCCGGGCGTTGTGGCGTGTGCCTGTAATTCCAGCTACTCGGGA GGCT GAGGCAGGAGAATTGCTTGAACCCGGGAGGCGGAGGTTGCAGTGAGCCAAGATTGC ACCA TTGCACTCCAGCCTGGGCGACAAGAGAAAAACTCTGTCTCAAAAAAAAAGAAAGAA AGAA AGAATTAGCCAACTGAAAGCCTTAGACTGAGGTGTGTCCTCTGTTAGAGAGCTGTCA TCAC AACTCCTACAAAAGCAGTCGTATCCTGAATTCAACCTCTTTCTCTAAATGAATATAG CTAT TGTTCCCTTTGTGCCCTCTTGTCCTACTGTCCCTTCTGTTGCCCATGCCAAAGACAGC TAGC TCCTTGAACAGCTTGGCCTGAATACAGATACTAGCGTGTCTGCAGCAGAGAAAAAA ACAG CATTCCCCATCCAGAAATGCAAGGTCAAGAACAGAGAGCAAATTAGGTAGCTAAGG ACTC AGGTCCTTAGTTGGTGTCCAGGGGCCACATTCTTTCCTTTCACCATCTCTGTAGGGAC AGG AATACTTCCCTTCTGTCCTCAGAGGGTCAGGACTCAGAGAAACCACAGAGCAGCAG CTCA GGAAAGTGGTTCATGGAAATGCTGGCAAGAGAGAGGGGTTACAATGCCCTCCCTTG GGAG CAGGCTGCTCCCATCAGATCGTAACCTCTCTGGTATGTGGGCAGAGCTACCAGGTTA AGGT CCTCCCTAGGGTTTGCAAAACCCTCATGGGATCATGAGCCATACAGAACCGACCTGT GTGT CTCCAGAGTCTGTAATTAACACAGGCATTTTGAGGAAATGCGTGGCCTCAGGCCCCA CTCC CGGCTACCCCCATCCCACTATGCCTAGTATAGTCTAGCTGCCCTGGTACAATTCTCCC AGT ATCTTGCAGGCCCCTATTTCCTATTCCTACTCTGCTCATCTGGCTCTCAGGAACCTTC TTGG CCTTCCCTTTCAGACCTCTACAGATGCCAGCCTTGTGGGAAAGAAGAGTGGGCACCT G AGGGAAGCCAGACCTGCTTCCCGCGCACTGTGGTGTTTTTGGCTTTGCGTGAGCACA CCTCTTGGGTGCTGCTGGCAGCTAACACGCTGCTGCTGCTGCTGCTGCTTGGGACTG CTGGCCTGTTTGCCTGGCACCTAGACACCCCTGTGGTGAGGTCAGCAGGGGGCCGCC TGTGCTTTCTTATGCTGGGCTCCCTGGCAGCAGGTAGTGGCAGCCTCTATGGCTTCTT TGGGGAACCCACAAGGCCTGCGTGCTTGCTACGCCAGGCCCTCTTTGCCCTTGGTTT CACCATCTTCCTGTCCTGCCTGACAGTTCGCTCATTCCAACTAATCATCATCTTCAAG TTTTCCACCAAGGTACCTACATTCTACCACGCCTGGGTCCAAAACCACGGTGCTGGC C TGTTTGTGATGATCAGCTCAGCGGCCCAGCTGCTTATCTGTCTAACTTGGCTGGTGGT GTGGACCCCACTGCCTGCTAGGGAATACCAGCGCTTCCCCCATCTGGTGATGCTTGA GTGCACAGAGACCAACTCCCTGGGCTTCATACTGGCCTTCCTCTACAATGGCCTCCT C TCCATCAGTGCCTTTGCCTGCAGCTACCTGGGTAAGGACTTGCCAGAGAACTACAAC GAGGCCAAATGTGTCACCTTCAGCCTGCTCTTCAACTTCGTGTCCTGGATCGCCTTCT TCACCACGGCCAGCGTCTACGACGGCAAGTACCTGCCTGCGGCCAACATGATGGCT G GGCTGAGCAGCCTGAGCAGCGGCTTCGGTGGGTATTTTCTGCCTAAGTGCTACGTGA TCCTCTGCCGCCCAGACCTCAACAGCACAGAGCACTTCCAGGCCTCCATTCAGGACT ACACGAGGCGCTGCGGCTCCACCTGACCAGTGGGTCAGCAGGCACGGCTGGCAGCC TTC TCTGCCCTGAGGGTCGAAGGTCGAGCAGGCCGGGGGTGTCCGGGAGGTCTTTGGGC ATCG CGGTCTGGGGTTGGGACGTGTAAGCGCCTGGGAGAGCCTAGACCAGGCTCCGGGCT GCCA ATAAAGAAGTGAAATGCGTATCTGGTCTCCTGTCGTGGGAGAGTGTGAGGTGTAAC GGAT TCAAGTCTGAACCCAGAGCCTGGAAAAGGCTGACCGCCCAGATTGACGTTGCTAGG CAAC TCCGGAGGCGGGCCCAGCGCCAAAAGAACAGGGCGAGGCGTCGTCCCCGCATCCCA TTGG CCGTTCTCTGCGGGGCCCCGCCCTCGGGGGCCGGAGCTAGAAGCTCTACGCTTCCGA GGCG CACCTCCTGGCCTGCACGCTTTGACGT hT1R1 predicted cds (SEQ ID NO 16) ATGCTGCTCTGCACGGCTCGCCTGGTCGGCCTGCAGCTTCTCATTTCCTGCTGCTGGG (SEQ ID NO 16) CCTT TGCCTGCCATAGCACGGAGTCTTCTCCTGACTTCACCCTCCCCGGAGATTACCTCCTG GCA GGCCTGTTCCCTCTCCATTCTGGCTGTCTGCAGGTGAGGCACAGACCCGAGGTGACC CTGT GTGACAGGTCTTGTAGCTTCAATGAGCATGGCTACCACCTCTTCCAGGCTATGCGGC TTGG GGTTGAGGAGATAAACAACTCCACGGCCCTGCTGCCCAACATCACCCTGGGGTACC AGCT GTATGATGTGTGTTCTGACTCTGCCAATGTGTATGCCACGCTGAGAGTGCTCTCCCTG CCA GGGCAACACCACATAGAGCTCCAAGGAGACCTTCTCCACTATTCCCCTACGGTGCTG GCAG TGATTGGGCCTGACAGCACCAACCGTGCTGCCACCACAGCCGCCCTGCTGAGCCCTT TCCT GGTGCCCATGATTAGCTATGCGGCCAGCAGCGAGACGCTCAGCGTGAAGCGGCAGT ATCC CTCTTTCCTGCGCACCATCCCCAATGACAAGTACCAGGTGGAGACCATGGTGCTGCT GCTG CAGAAGTTCGGGTGGACCTGGATCTCTCTGGTTGGCAGCAGTGACGACTATGGGCA GCTA GGGGTGCAGGCACTGGAGAACCAGGCCACTGGTCAGGGGATCTGCATTGCTTTCAA GGAC ATCATGCCCTTCTCTGCCCAGGTGGGCGATGAGAGGATGCAGTGCCTCATGCGCCAC CTGG CCCAGGCCGGGGCCACCGTCGTGGTTGTTTTTTCCAGCCGGCAGTTGGCCAGGGTGT TTTT CGAGTCCGTGGTGCTGACCAACCTGACTGGCAAGGTGTGGGTCGCCTCAGAAGCCT GGGC CCTCTCCAGGCACATCACTGGGGTGCCCGGGATCCAGCGCATTGGGATGGTGCTGG GCGT GGCCATCCAGAAGAGGGCTGTCCCTGGCCTGAAGGCGTTTGAAGAAGCCTATGCCC GGGC AGACAAGAAGGCCCCTAGGCCTTGCCACAAGGGCTCCTGGTGCAGCAGCAATCAGC TCTG CAGAGAATGCCAAGCTTTCATGGCACACACGATGCCCAAGCTCAAAGCCTTCTCCAT GAGT TCTGCCTACAACGCATACCGGGCTGTGTATGCGGTGGCCCATGGCCTCCACCAGCTC CTGG GCTGTGCCTCTGGAGCTTGTTCCAGGGGCCGAGTCTACCCCTGGCAGCTTTTGGAGC AGAT CCACAAGGTGCATTTCCTTCTACACAAGGACACTGTGGCGTTTAATGACAACAGAGA TCCC CTCAGTAGCTATAACATAATTGCCTGGGACTGGAATGGACCCAAGTGGACCTTCACG GTCC TCGGTTCCTCCACATGGTCTCCAGTTCAGCTAAACATAAATGAGACCAAAATCCAGT GGCA CGGAAAGGACAACCAGGTGCCTAAGTCTGTGTGTTCCAGCGACTGTCTTGAAGGGC ACCA GCGAGTGGTTACGGGTTTCCATCACTGCTGCTTTGAGTGTGTGCCCTGTGGGGCTGG GACC TTCCTCAACAAGAGTGACCTCTACAGATGCCAGCCTTGTGGGAAAGAAGAGTGGGC ACCT GAGGGAAGCCAGACCTGCTTCCCGCGCACTGTGGTGTTTTTGGCTTTGCGTGAGCAC ACCT CTTGGGTGCTGCTGGCAGCTAACACGCTGCTGCTGCTGCTGCTGCTTGGGACTGCTG GCCT GTTTGCCTGGCACCTAGACACCCCTGTGGTGAGGTCAGCAGGGGGCCGCCTGTGCTT TCTT ATGCTGGGCTCCCTGGCAGCAGGTAGTGGCAGCCTCTATGGCTTCTTTGGGGAACCC ACAA GGCCTGCGTGCTTGCTACGCCAGGCCCTCTTTGCCCTTGGTTTCACCATCTTCCTGTC CTGC CTGACAGTTCGCTCATTCCAACTAATCATCATCTTCAAGTTTTCCACCAAGGTACCTA CATT CTACCACGCCTGGGTCCAAAACCACGGTGCTGGCCTGTTTGTGATGATCAGCTCAGC GGCC CAGCTGCTTATCTGTCTAACTTGGCTGGTGGTGTGGACCCCACTGCCTGCTAGGGAA TACC AGCGCTTCCCCCATCTGGTGATGCTTGAGTGCACAGAGACCAACTCCCTGGGCTTCA TACT GGCCTTCCTCTACAATGGCCTCCTCTCCATCAGTGCCTTTGCCTGCAGCTACCTGGGT AAG GACTTGCCAGAGAACTACAACGAGGCCAAATGTGTCACCTTCAGCCTGCTCTTCAAC TTCG TGTCCTGGATCGCCTTCTTCACCACGGCCAGCGTCTACGACGGCAAGTACCTGCCTG CGGC CAACATGATGGCTGGGCTGAGCAGCCTGAGCAGCGGCTTCGGTGGGTATTTTCTGCC TAAG TGCTACGTGATCCTCTGCCGCCCAGACCTCAACAGCACAGAGCACTTCCAGGCCTCC ATTC AGGACTACACGAGGCGCTGCGGCTCCACCTGA hT1R1 conceptual translation (SEQ ID NO 17) MLLCTARLVGLQLLISCCWAFACHSTESSPDFTLPGDYLLAGLFPLHSGCLQVRHRPEVT (SEQ ID NO 17) LCDR SCSFNEHGYHLFQAMRLGVEEINNSTALLPNITLGYQLYDVCSDSANVYATLRVLSLPG QHHIE LQGDLLHYSPTVLAVIGPDSTNRAATTAALLSPFLVPMISYAASSETLSVKRQYPSFLRTI PNDK YQVETMVLLLQKFGWTWISLVGSSDDYGQLGVQALENQATGQGICIAFKDIMPFSAQV GDER MQCLMRHLAQAGATVVVVFSSRQLARVFFESVVLTNLTGKVWVASEAWALSRHITGV PGIQR IGMVLGVAIQKRAVPGLKAFEEAYARADKKAPRPCHKGSWCSSNQLCPJCQAFMAHT MPKL KAFSMSSAYNAYRAVYAVAHGLHQLLGCASGACSRGRVYPWQLLEQIHKVHFLLHKD TVAF NDNRDPLSSYNIIAWDWNGPKWTFTVLGSSTWSPVQLNINETKIQWHGKDNQVPKSVC SSDC LEGHQRVVTGFHHCCFECVPCGAGTFLNKSDLYRCQPCGKEEWAPEGSQTCFPRTVVF LALRE HTSWVLLAANTLLLLLLLGTAGLFAWHLDTPVVRSAGGRLCFLMLGSLAAGSGSLYGF FGEPT RPACLLRQALFALGFTIFLSCLTVRSFQLIIIFKFSTKVPTFYHAWVQNHGAGLFVMISSA AQLLI CLTWLVVWTPLPAREYQRFPHLVMLECTETNSLGFILAFLYNGLLSISAFACSYLGKDLP ENYN EAKCVTFSLLFNFVSWIAFFTTASVYDGKYLPAANMMAGLSSLSSGFGGYFLPKCYVIL CRPDL NSTEHFQASIQDYTRRCGST

While the foregoing detailed description has described several embodiments of the present invention, it is to be understood that the above description is illustrative only and not limiting of the disclosed invention. The invention is to be limited only by the claims which follow. 2AHomo sapiens gcag tggcctcagg cagagtctga cgcgcacaaa ctttcaggcc caggaagcga 6cact ggggccccag ggtgtggcaa gtgaggatgg caagggtttt gctaaacaaa ctgccc gctccccgcc ccgggctcac tccatgtgag gccccagtcg gggcagccac cgtgcc tgttggaagt tgcctctgcc atgctgggcc ctgctgtcct gggcctcagc 24gctc tcctgcaccc tgggacgggg gccccattgt gcctgtcaca gcaacttagg 3ggggg actacgtgct gggggggctg ttccccctgg gcgaggccga ggaggctggc 36agcc ggacacggcc cagcagccct gtgtgcacca ggtacagagg tgggacggcc 42gggg tcagggtgac caggtctggg gtgctcctga gctggggccg aggtggccat 48ttct gtgtggcccc aggttctcct caaacggcct gctctgggca ctggccatga 54ccgt ggaggagatc aacaacaagt cggatctgct gcccgggctg cgcctgggct 6ctctt tgatacgtgc tcggagcctg tggtggccat gaagcccagc ctcatgttcc 66aggc aggcagccgc gacatcgccg cctactgcaa ctacacgcag taccagcccc 72tggc tgtcatcggg ccccactcgt cagagctcgc catggtcacc ggcaagttct 78tctt cctcatgccc cagtggggcg ccccccacca tcacccaccc ccaaccaacc 84ccgt gggagcccct tgtgtcagga gaatgc 87622687DNAHomo sapiens 2tacatgcacc ccacccagcc ctgccctggg agccctgtgt cagaagatgc tcttggcctt 6cagc tacggtgcta gcatggagct gctgagcgcc cgggagacct tcccctcctt cgcacc gtgcccagcg accgtgtgca gctgacggcc gccgcggagc tgctgcagga ggctgg aactgggtgg ccgccctggg cagcgacgac gagtacggcc ggcagggcct 24cttc tcggccctgg ccgcggcacg cggcatctgc atcgcgcacg agggcctggt 3tgccc cgtgccgatg actcgcggct ggggaaggtg caggacgtcc tgcaccaggt 36gagc agcgtgcagg tggtgctgct gttcgcctcc gtgcacgccg cccacgccct 42ctac agcatcagca gcaggctctc gcccaaggtg tgggtggcca gcgaggcctg 48ctct gacctggtca tggggctgcc cggcatggcc cagatgggca cggtgcttgg 54ccag aggggtgccc agctgcacga gttcccccag tacgtgaaga cgcacctggc 6ccacc gacccggcct tctgctctgc cctgggcgag agggagcagg gtctggagga 66ggtg ggccagcgct gcccgcagtg tgactgcatc acgctgcaga acgtgagcgc 72aaat caccaccaga cgttctctgt ctacgcagct gtgtatagcg tggcccaggc 78caac actcttcagt gcaacgcctc aggctgcccc gcgcaggacc ccgtgaagcc 84ggtg agcccgggag atgggggtgt gctgtcctct gcatgtgccc aggccaccag 9gccac cacgcctgag ctggaggtgg ctggcggctc agccccgtcc cccgcccgca 96ggag aacatgtaca acctgacctt ccacgtgggc gggctgccgc tgcggttcga cagcgga aacgtggaca tggagtacga cctgaagctg tgggtgtggc agggctcagt caggctc cacgacgtgg gcaggttcaa cggcagcctc aggacagagc gcctgaagat ctggcac acgtctgaca accaggtgag gtgagggtgg gtgtgccagg cgtgcccgtg gcccccg cggcagggcg cagcctgggg gtgggggccg ttccagtctc ccgtgggcat cagccga gcagagccag accccaggcc tgtgcgcaga agcccgtgtc ccggtgctcg cagtgcc aggagggcca ggtgcgccgg gtcaaggggt tccactcctg ctgctacgac gtggact gcgaggcggg cagctaccgg caaaacccag gtgagccgcc ttcccggcag ggggtgg gaacgcagca ggggagggtc ctgccaagtc ctgactctga gaccagagcc agggtac aagacgaaca cccagcgccc ttctcctctc tcacagacga catcgcctgc ttttgtg gccaggatga gtggtccccg gagcgaagca cacgctgctt ccgccgcagg cggttcc tggcatgggg cgagccggct gtgctgctgc tgctcctgct gctgagcctg ctgggcc ttgtgctggc tgctttgggg ctgttcgttc accatcggga cagcccactg caggcct cgggggggcc cctggcctgc tttggcctgg tgtgcctggg cctggtctgc agcgtcc tcctgttccc tggccagccc agccctgccc gatgcctggc ccagcagccc tcccacc tcccgctcac gggctgcctg agcacactct tcctgcaggc ggccgagatc gtggagt cagaactgcc tctgagctgg gcagaccggc tgagtggctg cctgcggggg tgggcct ggctggtggt gctgctggcc atgctggtgg aggtcgcact gtgcacctgg 2tggtgg ccttcccgcc ggaggtggtg acggactggc acatgctgcc cacggaggcg 2tgcact gccgcacacg ctcctgggtc agcttcggcc tagcgcacgc caccaatgcc 2tggcct ttctctgctt cctgggcact ttcctggtgc ggagccagcc gggctgctac 222gccc gtggcctcac ctttgccatg ctggcctact tcatcacctg ggtctccttt 228ctcc tggccaatgt gcaggtggtc ctcaggcccg ccgtgcagat gggcgccctc 234tgtg tcctgggcat cctggctgcc ttccacctgc ccaggtgtta cctgctcatg 24gccag ggctcaacac ccccgagttc ttcctgggag ggggccctgg ggatgcccaa 246aatg acgggaacac aggaaatcag gggaaacatg agtgacccaa ccctgtgatc 252ccgg tgaacccaga cttagctgcg atccccccca agccagcaat gacccgtgtc 258caga gaccctcccg ctctaggttc tgaccccagg ttgtctcctg accctgaccc 264gagc cctaggcctg gagcacgtgg acacccctgt gaccatc 268732553DNAHomo sapiens 3 atgctgggcc ctgctgtcct gggcctcagc ctctgggctc tcctgcaccc tgggacgggg 6ttgt gcctgtcaca gcaacttagg atgaaggggg actacgtgct gggggggctg ccctgg gcgaggccga ggaggctggc ctccgcagcc ggacacggcc cagcagccct gcacca ggttctcctc aaacggcctg ctctgggcac tggccatgaa aatggccgtg 24atca acaacaagtc ggatctgctg cccgggctgc gcctgggcta cgacctcttt 3gtgct cggagcctgt ggtggccatg aagcccagcc tcatgttcct ggccaaggca 36cgcg acatcgccgc ctactgcaac tacacgcagt accagccccg tgtgctggct 42gggc cccactcgtc agagctcgcc atggtcaccg gcaagttctt cagcttcttc 48cccc actacggtgc tagcatggag ctgctgagcg cccgggagac cttcccctcc 54cgca ccgtgcccag cgaccgtgtg cagctgacgg ccgccgcgga gctgctgcag 6cggct ggaactgggt ggccgccctg ggcagcgacg acgagtacgg ccggcagggc 66atct tctcggccct ggccgcggca cgcggcatct gcatcgcgca cgagggcctg 72ctgc cccgtgccga tgactcgcgg ctggggaagg tgcaggacgt cctgcaccag 78caga gcagcgtgca ggtggtgctg ctgttcgcct ccgtgcacgc cgcccacgcc 84aact acagcatcag cagcaggctc tcgcccaagg tgtgggtggc cagegaggec 9gacct ctgacctggt catggggctg cccggcatgg cccagatggg cacggtgctt 96ctcc agaggggtgc ccagctgcac gagttccccc agtacgtgaa gacgcacctg ctggcca ccgacccggc cttctgctct gccctgggcg agagggagca gggtctggag gacgtgg tgggccagcg ctgcccgcag tgtgactgca tcacgctgca gaacgtgagc gggctaa atcaccacca gacgttctct gtctacgcag ctgtgtatag cgtggcccag ctgcaca acactcttca gtgcaacgcc tcaggctgcc ccgcgcagga ccccgtgaag tggcagc tcctggagaa catgtacaac ctgaccttcc acgtgggcgg gctgccgctg ttcgaca gcagcggaaa cgtggacatg gagtacgacc tgaagctgtg ggtgtggcag tcagtgc ccaggctcca cgacgtgggc aggttcaacg gcagcctcag gacagagcgc aagatcc gctggcacac gtctgacaac cagaagcccg tgtcccggtg ctcgcggcag caggagg gccaggtgcg ccgggtcaag gggttccact cctgctgcta cgactgtgtg tgcgagg cgggcagcta ccggcaaaac ccagacgaca tcgcctgcac cttttgtggc gatgagt ggtccccgga gcgaagcaca cgctgcttcc gccgcaggtc tcggttcctg tggggcg agccggctgt gctgctgctg ctcctgctgc tgagcctggc gctgggcctt ctggctg ctttggggct gttcgttcac catcgggaca gcccactggt tcaggcctcg gggcccc tggcctgctt tggcctggtg tgcctgggcc tggtctgcct cagcgtcctc ttccctg gccagcccag ccctgcccga tgcctggccc agcagccctt gtcccacctc ctcacgg gctgcctgag cacactcttc ctgcaggcgg ccgagatctt cgtggagtca ctgcctc tgagctgggc agaccggctg agtggctgcc tgcgggggcc ctgggcctgg 2tggtgc tgctggccat gctggtggag gtcgcactgt gcacctggta cctggtggcc 2cgccgg aggtggtgac ggactggcac atgctgccca cggaggcgct ggtgcactgc 2cacgct cctgggtcag cttcggccta gcgcacgcca ccaatgccac gctggccttt 222ttcc tgggcacttt cctggtgcgg agccagccgg gctgctacaa ccgtgcccgt 228acct ttgccatgct ggcctacttc atcacctggg tctcctttgt gcccctcctg 234gtgc aggtggtcct caggcccgcc gtgcagatgg gcgccctcct gctctgtgtc 24catcc tggctgcctt ccacctgccc aggtgttacc tgctcatgcg gcagccaggg 246accc ccgagttctt cctgggaggg ggccctgggg atgcccaagg ccagaatgac 252acag gaaatcaggg gaaacatgag tga 2553485o sapiens 4Met Leu Gly Pro Ala Val Leu Gly Leu Ser Leu Trp Ala Leu Leu His ly Thr Gly Ala Pro Leu Cys Leu Ser Gln Gln Leu Arg Met Lys 2Gly Asp Tyr Val Leu Gly Gly Leu Phe Pro Leu Gly Glu Ala Glu Glu 35 4 Gly Leu Arg Ser Arg Thr Arg Pro Ser Ser Pro Val Cys Thr Arg 5Phe Ser Ser Asn Gly Leu Leu Trp Ala Leu Ala Met Lys Met Ala Val 65 7Glu Glu Ile Asn Asn Lys Ser Asp Leu Leu Pro Gly Leu Arg Leu Gly 85 9 Asp Leu Phe Asp Thr Cys Ser Glu Pro Val Val Ala Met Lys Pro Leu Met Phe Leu Ala Lys Ala Gly Ser Arg Asp Ile Ala Ala Tyr Asn Tyr Thr Gln Tyr Gln Pro Arg Val Leu Ala Val Ile Gly Pro Ser Ser Glu Leu Ala Met Val Thr Gly Lys Phe Phe Ser Phe Phe Leu Met Pro His Tyr Gly Ala Ser Met Glu Leu Leu Ser Ala Arg Glu Phe Pro Ser Phe Phe Arg Thr Val Pro Ser Asp Arg Val Gln Leu Ala Ala Ala Glu Leu Leu Gln Glu Phe Gly Trp Asn Trp Val Ala 2eu Gly Ser Asp Asp Glu Tyr Gly Arg Gln Gly Leu Ser Ile Phe 222a Leu Ala Ala Ala Arg Gly Ile Cys Ile Ala His Glu Gly Leu225 234o Leu Pro Arg Ala Asp Asp Ser Arg Leu Gly Lys Val Gln Asp 245 251 Leu His Gln Val Asn Gln Ser Ser Val Gln Val Val Leu Leu Phe 267r Val His Ala Ala His Ala Leu Phe Asn Tyr Ser Ile Ser Ser 275 28g Leu Ser Pro Lys Val Trp Val Ala Ser Glu Ala Trp Leu Thr Ser 29eu Val Met Gly Leu Pro Gly Met Ala Gln Met Gly Thr Val Leu33ly Phe Leu Gln Arg Gly Ala Gln Leu His Glu Phe Pro Gln Tyr Val 325 33s Thr His Leu Ala Leu Ala Thr Asp Pro Ala Phe Cys Ser Ala Leu 345u Arg Glu Gln Gly Leu Glu Glu Asp Val Val Gly Gln Arg Cys 355 36o Gln Cys Asp Cys Ile Thr Leu Gln Asn Val Ser Ala Gly Leu Asn 378s Gln Thr Phe Ser Val Tyr Ala Ala Val Tyr Ser Val Ala Gln385 39eu His Asn Thr Leu Gln Cys Asn Ala Ser Gly Cys Pro Ala Gln 44ro Val Lys Pro Trp Gln Leu Leu Glu Asn Met Tyr Asn Leu Thr 423s Val Gly Gly Leu Pro Leu Arg Phe Asp Ser Ser Gly Asn Val 435 44p Met Glu Tyr Asp Leu Lys Leu Trp Val Trp Gln Gly Ser Val Pro 456u His Asp Val Gly Arg Phe Asn Gly Ser Leu Arg Thr Glu Arg465 478s Ile Arg Trp His Thr Ser Asp Asn Gln Lys Pro Val Ser Arg 485 49s Ser Arg Gln Cys Gln Glu Gly Gln Val Arg Arg Val Lys Gly Phe 55er Cys Cys Tyr Asp Cys Val Asp Cys Glu Ala Gly Ser Tyr Arg 5525Gln Asn Pro Asp Asp Ile Ala Cys Thr Phe Cys Gly Gln Asp Glu Trp 534o Glu Arg Ser Thr Arg Cys Phe Arg Arg Arg Ser Arg Phe Leu545 556p Gly Glu Pro Ala Val Leu Leu Leu Leu Leu Leu Leu Ser Leu 565 57a Leu Gly Leu Val Leu Ala Ala Leu Gly Leu Phe Val His His Arg 589r Pro Leu Val Gln Ala Ser Gly Gly Pro Leu Ala Cys Phe Gly 595 6eu Val Cys Leu Gly Leu Val Cys Leu Ser Val Leu Leu Phe Pro Gly 662o Ser Pro Ala Arg Cys Leu Ala Gln Gln Pro Leu Ser His Leu625 634u Thr Gly Cys Leu Ser Thr Leu Phe Leu Gln Ala Ala Glu Ile 645 65e Val Glu Ser Glu Leu Pro Leu Ser Trp Ala Asp Arg Leu Ser Gly 667u Arg Gly Pro Trp Ala Trp Leu Val Val Leu Leu Ala Met Leu 675 681 Glu Val Ala Leu Cys Thr Trp Tyr Leu Val Ala Phe Pro Pro Glu 69al Thr Asp Trp His Met Leu Pro Thr Glu Ala Leu Val His Cys77rg Thr Arg Ser Trp Val Ser Phe Gly Leu Ala His Ala Thr Asn Ala 725 73r Leu Ala Phe Leu Cys Phe Leu Gly Thr Phe Leu Val Arg Ser Gln 745y Cys Tyr Asn Arg Ala Arg Gly Leu Thr Phe Ala Met Leu Ala 755 76r Phe Ile Thr Trp Val Ser Phe Val Pro Leu Leu Ala Asn Val Gln 7781 Leu Arg Pro Ala Val Gln Met Gly Ala Leu Leu Leu Cys Val785 791y Ile Leu Ala Ala Phe His Leu Pro Arg Cys Tyr Leu Leu Met 881n Pro Gly Leu Asn Thr Pro Glu Phe Phe Leu Gly Gly Gly Pro 823p Ala Gln Gly Gln Asn Asp Gly Asn Thr Gly Asn Gln Gly Lys 835 84s Glu 85Artificial Sequencemodified_base(3)a, c, t, g, other or unknown 5cgnttyytng cntggggnga rcc 23623DNAArtificial Sequencemodified_base(3)a, c, t, g, other or unknown 6cgngcncgrt trtarcancc ngg 2379PRTHomo sapiens 7Arg Phe Leu Ala Trp Gly Glu Pro Ala THomo sapiens 8Pro Gly Cys Tyr Asn Arg Ala Arg DNAMus sp. 9gtgctgtcac tcctcctgct gctttgcctg gtgctgggtc tagcactggc tgctctgggg 6gtcc accactggga cagccctctt gtccaggcct caggcggctc acagttctgc gcctga tctgcctagg cctcttctgc ctcagtgtcc ttctgttccc aggacggcca ctgcca gctgccttgc acaacaacca atggctcacc tccctctcac aggctgcctg 24ctct tcctgcaagc agctgagacc tttgtggagt ctgagctgcc actgagctgg 3ctggc tatgcagcta ccttcgggac tctggcctgc tagtggtact gttggccact 36gagg cagcactatg tgcctggtat ttgaccgctt caccagaagt ggtgacagac 42gtgc tgcccacaga ggtactggag cactgccacg tgcgttcctg ggtcaacctg 48gtgc acatcaccaa tgcaatggta gcttttctct gctttctggg cactttcctg 54gacc ag 552TMus sp. eu Ser Leu Leu Leu Leu Leu Cys Leu Val Leu Gly Leu Ala Leu la Leu Gly Leu Ser Val His His Trp Asp Ser Pro Leu Val Gln 2Ala Ser Gly Gly Ser Gln Phe Cys Phe Gly Leu Ile Cys Leu Gly Leu 35 4 Cys Leu Ser Val Leu Leu Phe Pro Gly Arg Pro Ser Ser Ala Ser 5Cys Leu Ala Gln Gln Pro Met Ala His Leu Pro Leu Thr Gly Cys Leu 65 7Ser Thr Leu Phe Leu Gln Ala Ala Glu Thr Phe Val Glu Ser Glu Leu 85 9 Leu Ser Trp Ala Asn Trp Leu Cys Ser Tyr Leu Arg Asp Ser Gly Leu Val Val Leu Leu Ala Thr Phe Val Glu Ala Ala Leu Cys Ala Tyr Leu Thr Ala Ser Pro Glu Val Val Thr Asp Trp Ser Val Leu Thr Glu Val Leu Glu His Cys His Val Arg Ser Trp Val Asn Leu Gly Leu Val His Ile Thr Asn Ala Met Val Ala Phe Leu Cys Phe Leu Thr Phe Leu Val Gln Asp Gln 8DNARattus sp. gtcac ttctcctgct gctttgcctg gtgctgggcc tgacactggc tgccctgggg 6gtcc actactggga cagccctctt gttcaggcct caggtgggtc actgttctgc gcctga tctgcctagg cctcttctgc ctcagtgtcc ttctgttccc aggacgacca ctgcca gctgccttgc ccaacaacca atggctcacc tccctctcac aggctgcctg 24ctct tcctgcaagc agccgagatc tttgtggagt ctgagctgcc actgagttgg 3ctggc tctgcagcta ccttcggggc ccctgggctt ggctggtggt actgctggcc 36gtgg aggctgcact atgtgcctgg tacttgatgg ctttccctcc agaggtggtg 42tggc aggtgctgcc cacggaggta ctggaacact gccgcatgcg ttcctgggtc 48ggct tggtgcacat caccaatgca ggggtagctt tcctctgctt tctgggcact 54gtac aaagccag 558TRattus sp. eu Ser Leu Leu Leu Leu Leu Cys Leu Val Leu Gly Leu Thr Leu la Leu Gly Leu Phe Val His Tyr Trp Asp Ser Pro Leu Val Gln 2Ala Ser Gly Gly Ser Leu Phe Cys Phe Gly Leu Ile Cys Leu Gly Leu 35 4 Cys Leu Ser Val Leu Leu Phe Pro Gly Arg Pro Arg Ser Ala Ser SCys Leu Ala Gln Gln Pro Met Ala His Leu Pro Leu Thr Gly Cys Leu 65 7Ser Thr Leu Phe Leu Gln Ala Ala Glu Ile Phe Val Glu Ser Glu Leu 85 9 Leu Ser Trp Ala Asn Trp Leu Cys Ser Tyr Leu Arg Gly Pro Trp Trp Leu Val Val Leu Leu Ala Thr Leu Val Glu Ala Ala Leu Cys Trp Tyr Leu Met Ala Phe Pro Pro Glu Val Val Thr Asp Trp Gln Leu Pro Thr Glu Val Leu Glu His Cys Arg Met Arg Ser Trp Val Ser Leu Gly Leu Val His Ile Thr Asn Ala Gly Val Ala Phe Leu Cys Leu Gly Thr Phe Leu Val Gln Ser Gln NARattus sp. gggtt tggctatctt gggcctcagt ctggctgctt tcctggagct tgggatgggg 6ttgt gtctgtcaca gcaattcaag gcacaagggg actatatatt gggtggacta ccctgg gcacaactga ggaggccact ctcaaccaga gaacacagcc caacggcatc gtacca ggttctcgcc ccttggtttg ttcctggcca tggctatgaa gatggctgta 24atca acaatggatc tgccttgctc cctgggctgc gactgggcta tgacctgttt 3atgct cagagccagt ggtcaccatg aagcccagcc tcatgttcat ggccaaggtg 36caaa gcattgctgc ctactgcaac tacacacagt accaaccccg tgtgctggct 42ggtc cccactcatc agagcttgcc ctcattacag gcaagttctt cagcttcttc 48ccac aggtcagcta tagtgccagc atggatcggc taagtgaccg ggaaacattt 54ttct tccgcacagt gcccagtgac cgggtgcagc tgcaggccgt tgtgacactg 6gaatt tcagctggaa ctgggtggct gccttaggta gtgatgatga ctatggccgg 66ctga gcatcttttc tggtctggcc aactcacgag gtatctgcat tgcacacgag 72gtgc cacaacatga cactagtggc caacaattgg gcaaggtggt ggatgtgcta 78gtga accaaagcaa agtacaggtg gtggtgctgt ttgcatctgc ccgtgctgtc 84cttt ttagctacag catccttcat gacctctcac ccaaggtatg ggtggccagt 9ctggc tgacctctga cctggtcatg acacttccca atattgcccg tgtgggcact 96gggt ttctgcagcg cggtgcccta ctgcctgaat tttcccatta tgtggagact cttgccc tagctgctga cccaacattc tgtgcctccc tgaaagctga gttggatctg gagcgcg tgatggggcc acgctgttca caatgtgact acatcatgct acagaacctg tctgggc tgatgcagaa cctatcagct gggcagttgc accaccaaat atttgcaacc gcagctg tgtacagtgt ggctcaggcc cttcacaaca ccctgcagtg caatgtctca tgccaca catcagagcc tgttcaaccc tggcagctcc tggagaacat gtacaatatg ttccgtg ctcgagactt gacactgcag tttgatgcca aagggagtgt agacatggaa gacctga agatgtgggt gtggcagagc cctacacctg tactacatac tgtaggcacc aacggca cccttcagct gcagcactcg aaaatgtatt ggccaggcaa ccaggtgcca tcccagt gctcccggca gtgcaaagat ggccaggtgc gcagagtaaa gggctttcat tgctgct atgactgtgt ggactgcaag gcagggagct accggaagca tccagatgac acctgta ctccatgtgg caaggatcag tggtccccag aaaaaagcac aacctgctta cgcaggc ccaagtttct ggcttggggg gagccagctg tgctgtcact tctcctgctg tgcctgg tgctgggcct gacactggct gccctggggc tctttgtcca ctactgggac cctcttg ttcaggcctc aggtgggtca ctgttctgct ttggcctgat ctgcctaggc ttctgcc tcagtgtcct tctgttccca ggacgaccac gctctgccag ctgccttgcc caaccaa tggctcacct ccctctcaca ggctgcctga gcacactctt cctgcaagca gagatct ttgtggagtc tgagctgcca ctgagttggg caaactggct ctgcagctac 2ggggcc cctgggcttg gctggtggta ctgctggcca ctcttgtgga ggctgcacta 2cctggt acttgatggc tttccctcca gaggtggtga cagattggca ggtgctgccc 2aggtac tggaacactg ccgcatgcgt tcctgggtca gcctgggctt ggtgcacatc 222gcag tgttagcttt cctctgcttt ctgggcactt tcctggtaca gagccagcct 228tata accgtgcccg tggcctcacc ttcgccatgc tagcttattt catcatctgg 234tttg tgcccctcct ggctaatgtg caggtggcct accagccagc tgtgcagatg 24tatct tattctgtgc cctgggcatc ctggccacct tccacctgcc caaatgctat 246ctgt ggctgccaga gctcaacacc caggagttct tcctgggaag gagccccaag 252tcag atgggaatag tggtagtagt gaggcaactc ggggacacag tgaatga 2577TRattus sp. ro Gly Leu Ala Ile Leu Gly Leu Ser Leu Ala Ala Phe Leu Glu ly Met Gly Ser Ser Leu Cys Leu Ser Gln Gln Phe Lys Ala Gln 2Gly Asp Tyr Ile Leu Gly Gly Leu Phe Pro Leu Gly Thr Thr Glu Glu 35 4 Thr Leu Asn Gln Arg Thr Gln Pro Asn Gly Ile Leu Cys Thr Arg 5Phe Ser Pro Leu Gly Leu Phe Leu Ala Met Ala Met Lys Met Ala Val 65 7Glu Glu Ile Asn Asn Gly Ser Ala Leu Leu Pro Gly Leu Arg Leu Gly 85 9 Asp Leu Phe Asp Thr Cys Ser Glu Pro Val Val Thr Met Lys Pro Leu Met Phe Met Ala Lys Val Gly Ser Gln Ser Ile Ala Ala Tyr Asn Tyr Thr Gln Tyr Gln Pro Arg Val Leu Ala Val Ile Gly Pro Ser Ser Glu Leu Ala Leu Ile Thr Gly Lys Phe Phe Ser Phe Phe Leu Met Pro Gln Val Ser Tyr Ser Ala Ser Met Asp Arg Leu Ser Asp Glu Thr Phe Pro Ser Phe Phe Arg Thr Val Pro Ser Asp Arg Val Leu Gln Ala Val Val Thr Leu Leu Gln Asn Phe Ser Trp Asn Trp 21a Ala Leu Gly Ser Asp Asp Asp Tyr Gly Arg Glu Gly Leu Ser 222e Ser Gly Leu Ala Asn Ser Arg Gly Ile Cys Ile Ala His Glu225 234u Val Pro Gln His Asp Thr Ser Gly Gln Gln Leu Gly Lys Val 245 251 Asp Val Leu Arg Gln Val Asn Gln Ser Lys Val Gln Val Val Val 267e Ala Ser Ala Arg Ala Val Tyr Ser Leu Phe Ser Tyr Ser Ile 275 28u His Asp Leu Ser Pro Lys Val Trp Val Ala Ser Glu Ser Trp Leu 29er Asp Leu Val Met Thr Leu Pro Asn Ile Ala Arg Val Gly Thr33al Leu Gly Phe Leu Gln Arg Gly Ala Leu Leu Pro Glu Phe Ser His 325 33r Val Glu Thr Arg Leu Ala Leu Ala Ala Asp Pro Thr Phe Cys Ala 345u Lys Ala Glu Leu Asp Leu Glu Glu Arg Val Met Gly Pro Arg 355 36s Ser Gln Cys Asp Tyr Ile Met Leu Gln Asn Leu Ser Ser Gly Leu 378n Asn Leu Ser Ala Gly Gln Leu His His Gln Ile Phe Ala Thr385 391a Ala Val Tyr Ser Val Ala Gln Ala Leu His Asn Thr Leu Gln 44sn Val Ser His Cys His Thr Ser Glu Pro Val Gln Pro Trp Gln 423u Glu Asn Met Tyr Asn Met Ser Phe Arg Ala Arg Asp Leu Thr 435 44u Gln Phe Asp Ala Lys Gly Ser Val Asp Met Glu Tyr Asp Leu Lys 456p Val Trp Gln Ser Pro Thr Pro Val Leu His Thr Val Gly Thr465 478n Gly Thr Leu Gln Leu Gln His Ser Lys Met Tyr Trp Pro Gly 485 49n Gln Val Pro Val Ser Gln Cys Ser Arg Gln Cys Lys Asp Gly Gln 55rg Arg Val Lys Gly Phe His Ser Cys Cys Tyr Asp Cys Val Asp 5525Cys Lys Ala Gly Ser Tyr Arg Lys His Pro Asp Asp Phe Thr Cys Thr 534s Gly Lys Asp Gln Trp Ser Pro Glu Lys Ser Thr Thr Cys Leu545 556g Arg Pro Lys Phe Leu Ala Trp Gly Glu Pro Ala Val Leu Ser 565 57u Leu Leu Leu Leu Cys Leu Val Leu Gly Leu Thr Leu Ala Ala Leu 589u Phe Val His Tyr Trp Asp Ser Pro Leu Val Gln Ala Ser Gly 595 61y Ser Leu Phe Cys Phe Gly Leu Ile Cys Leu Gly Leu Phe Cys Leu 6621 Leu Leu Phe Pro Gly Arg Pro Arg Ser Ala Ser Cys Leu Ala625 634n Pro Met Ala His Leu Pro Leu Thr Gly Cys Leu Ser Thr Leu 645 65e Leu Gln Ala Ala Glu Ile Phe Val Glu Ser Glu Leu Pro Leu Ser 667a Asn Trp Leu Cys Ser Tyr Leu Arg Gly Pro Trp Ala Trp Leu 675 681 Val Leu Leu Ala Thr Leu Val Glu Ala Ala Leu Cys Ala Trp Tyr 69et Ala Phe Pro Pro Glu Val Val Thr Asp Trp Gln Val Leu Pro77hr Glu Val Leu Glu His Cys Arg Met Arg Ser Trp Val Ser Leu Gly 725 73u Val His Ile Thr Asn Ala Val Leu Ala Phe Leu Cys Phe Leu Gly 745e Leu Val Gln Ser Gln Pro Gly Arg Tyr Asn Arg Ala Arg Gly 755 76u Thr Phe Ala Met Leu Ala Tyr Phe Ile Ile Trp Val Ser Phe Val 778u Leu Ala Asn Val Gln Val Ala Tyr Gln Pro Ala Val Gln Met785 79la Ile Leu Phe Cys Ala Leu Gly Ile Leu Ala Thr Phe His Leu 88ys Cys Tyr Val Leu Leu Trp Leu Pro Glu Leu Asn Thr Gln Glu 823e Leu Gly Arg Ser Pro Lys Glu Ala Ser Asp Gly Asn Ser Gly 835 84r Ser Glu Ala Thr Arg Gly His Ser Glu 858omo sapiensmodified_base(( c, t, g, other or unknown tctcg cgagatcccg tcggtccgcc ccgctgccct cccagctgcc gaaaagaggg 6gagc cgccggcgcc ctctgccggc aacctccgga agcacactag gaggttccag tctggt cgaggggctc cacggaggac tccatttacg ttacgcaaat tccctacccc ggccgg agagagaaag ccagaaacct cgcgaccagc catgggccac ctctccggaa 24cggg atattttttt tctcctgcag aaaaagcttt aggattggca gtttaaacaa 3gtcta tttgcatacc ttcggtttgc atgcatttgt ttcgaagtga gcaaccctgg 36aggc gaaagtatat gacaatttgc tcagaatctt aatgtcagaa aactggagac 42aggg gggtgtcgac tcaaagctgt gtctcattta gtaaactgag gcccaggtaa 48ctga aacctcgcaa cacccggaga aattgtgttc cagcctccca cctcgcccca 54caga gctccttttc taagccaggt gaagtcacag agcgtggaca gaacccacaa 6cagag gaagggtcac tgggtgccac ctggtttgca tctgtgcctt cgtcctgccc 66tgag tgggaccgca ggcccggaat gtcaaggcaa acagtcctgc ttcagccact 72cagt cccacccctt ttgggggcct gaagttagga agcatccggc agctgccttc 78agca actggcctcc ttagaggcca ctccttggcc atgccaggcg cgggcatctg 84atgc tgctctgcac ggctcgcctg gtcggcctgc agcttctcat ttcctgctgc 9ctttg cctgccatag cacggagtct tctcctgact tcaccctccc cggagattac 96gcag gcctgttccc tctccattct ggctgtctgc aggtgaggca cagacccgag accctgt gtgacaggtg agtgaggggc cagcagagcc acacttagtg ggacccctgg tagggcc cctctggctg ccatcctcca aacaggacct tgcctctgcc tttgcccctt ctgtccc caggccttgt tcatcaatcc acttgccacc taagtgctgg ctagaccttc gacactt cggccagttt ccaattattt cacccttgct gttagaatgt nnnnnnnnnn nnnnnnn nnnnnnnnnn nnnnnnnnnn nnnnnnnnnn aattccttaa actaaatttc ctttctc tctctctctg gaaaacactg actaatgtag caggtttctc tgctccagga caggacc ttttcgatgc taataagttt ctccatcagg gccagcttgt tcctcctact cttgaga gcccttgttg aagttgtggt ttgggggact ggaccgatga cctcaaaggt ctttgct cccaagcctc agagtctagg aggccagagg gtctcagcag gcctttgtcc tcagctg tctcttactg gctttctcca caggtcttgt agcttcaatg agcatggcta cctcttc caggctatgc ggcttggggt tgaggagata aacaactcca cggccctgct caacatc accctggggt accagctgta tgatgtgtgt tctgactctg ccaatgtgta cacgctg agagtgctct ccctgccagg gcaacaccac atagagctcc aaggagacct ccactat tcccctacgg tgctggcagt gattgggcct gacagcacca accgtgctgc cacagcc gccctgctga gccctttcct ggtgcccatg gtaagctgga gcctcagacc gcccatc tcccttcagg caagtctggg nnnnnnnnnn nnnnnnnnnn nnnnnnnnnn nnnnnnn nnnnnnnnnn gccaccatgc ccggctaatt tttttgtatt tttagtagag 2ggtttc accgtgttag ccaggctggt cgcaaactcc taacctcgtg atccacccac 2gcctcc caatgtgctg ggattacagg tgtgagccac tgcacccggc cataatgtat 2ataata aaataattat acaactcacc ataatgtaga atcagtggga gccctgagct 222ccta caactagatg gtcccatctg ggggtgatgg gagacagtga cagatcatca 228agat tctcataagt agcgtgcaac ccagatccct cgcatgtgca gttcacagta 234aagc tcctacaaga atctgatgct gctgctgatc tgacaggagg ggagcagctg 24acaga tgaagcttcg cttactcacc agctgctcac ctcctcctgt gaggcccggt 246cagg ccactgacct aacttctgcc ctgacctaca catgcttctc ttcttccttg 252gcct ccagtggaag tccctgaagg tccccaaaca cacgggacta tttcactcct 258gttt tgtctccttt gcttggaatg catcccctca ccccttgtcc ccaggcagat 264ccct cccccagaac ctgccccagt ggagccttcg caggtgattt gtcagtttca 27tgagg ggtgctctcc tggtctcccc ggctccctgt atccccacac ccagcacagg 276cact gggggggcct tcagtggaga ctgaaatggc tgaacgggac ctcccataga 282atgc ggccagcagc gagacgctca gcgtgaagcg gcagtatccc tctttcctgc 288tccc caatgacaag taccaggtgg agaccatggt gctgctgctg cagaagttcg 294cctg gatctctctg gttggcagca gtgacgacta tgggcagcta ggggtgcagg 3ggagaa ccaggccact ggtcagggga tctgcattgc tttcaaggac atcatgccct 3tgccca ggtgggcgat gagaggatgc agtgcctcat gcgccacctg gcccaggccg 3caccgt cgtggttgtt ttttccagcc ggcagttggc cagggtgttt ttcgagtccg 3gctgac caacctgact ggcaaggtgt gggtcgcctc agaagcctgg gccctctcca 324tcac tggggtgccc gggatccagc gcattgggat ggtgctgggc gtggccatcc 33agggc tgtccctggc ctgaaggcgt ttgaagaagc ctatgcccgg gcagacaaga 336ctag gccttgccac aagggctcct ggtgcagcag caatcagctc tgcagagaat 342cttt catggcacac acgatgccca agctcaaagc cttctccatg agttctgcct 348cata ccgggctgtg tatgcggtgg cccatggcct ccaccagctc ctgggctgtg 354gagc ttgttccagg ggccgagtct acccctggca ggtaagagag cccaccccag 36cctgt cagggagaac agccaatcct gagatgagca gagtgggcac tctccggtca 366atgc caagggggat aaatgccact aacttgaggt tttttgtttt gttttgtttt 372tgag acagtctggc tctgtcaccc aggctgcagt gtagtgatgc gatctcggct 378aact tccacctcct gggttcaagt gattctcttg cctcggcctc ctgagtagct 384acag gcacccacca ccatgcctgg ataatttttc ttttcttttt tttttttttg 39gagtc tcgctctgtt gcccaggctg gaatgcagtg gtgcgatctt ggctcactgt 396cgcc tcccaggttc actccattcc cctgcctcag cctcccaagt aggtgggact 4gcgccc gccaccacgc ccagctaatt ttttttgtat tttgagtaga gacggggttt 4atgtta gccaggatgg tctcaatctc ctgaccttgt catccgccca cctcgtcctc 4agtgct gggattacag gcgtgagcca ccgcacccgg cctaattttt gtatttttag 42atggg gtttcaccat gttggccagg ctggtctcga actcctggca tcaagtgatc 426cttc ggcctcccaa agtgctggga ttacaggcat tagctctctt ctcttagaca 432tctc tctgatcctt gccttctctc acccactgtg tcttggaagt gtcaagtgat 438cagg gctaaaactg tctgtaaagg agtgtttgtt agaggcctcc tctcaggagg 444ggga agattgaggg gcttcctaag aaggaaggga cgagaccttc ctgatgggct 45cacca ggacggaaac ccaggaaggc cccaggccct tgcttctggg accatgtggg 456ctgt ctgtggtggc ttcatgatac gcgtttcttt cagcttttgg agcagatcca 462gcat ttccttctac acaaggacac tgtggcgttt aatgacaaca gagatcccct 468ctat aacataattg cctgggactg gaatggaccc aagtggacct tcacggtcct 474ctcc acatggtctc cagttcagct aaacataaat gagaccaaaa tccagtggca 48aggac aaccaggtaa tggggatgtg gctactcacc atgtaactgg cttatgggca 486agcc tgggggtgat gctgacacag tgtacaggga gcaggagggg ggccccaggg 492ctgc caccactcta cccatcctgg ccagggaagc agggaagaca ctccgtaggc 498gcag atgccctggg gcggaagttc acacgaccag gggccctgcc ctgggagtga 5tgaggg cagatgcaca gagattctgt tttctgttcc acatgtgagc tgtcctttga 5ggcccc tacgtgtggc ccctctggct tcttacaggt gcctaagtct gtgtgttcca 5ctgtct tgaagggcac cagcgagtgg ttacgggttt ccatcactgc tgctttgagt 522cctg tggggctggg accttcctca acaagagtgg tgagtgggca atggagcagg 528accc agcactcccg ggggctgcac ggtggaggga gggcctccct tgggccccat 534tgcc ccagaaccaa ggcccagtca ctgggctgcc agttagcttc aggttggagg 54tgcta ccagacagaa ttctgatcaa gagaatcagc cactgggtgc ggtggctcat 546aatc ccagcacttt gggaggctga ggcgggtgga tcacttgagg tcgggagttc 552agcc tggccaacat ggtgaaaccc catctctacc aaaaatataa aaaattagct 558ggtg gcgcgtgcct gtaatcccag ctactcggga ggctgaggca ggagaatcac 564ccag gaggcggagg ttgcagtgag ccaagatgca ttccagcctg gaccacaaag 57attcg tccccccaaa aaaagaaagg aggccgggcg cggtggctca cacctgtaat 576actt tgggaggccg aggtgggtgg atcacctgag gtcaggagtt cgagaccagc 582aaca tggtgaaacc ccatctctac taaaaataca aaaaaagtta gccgggcgtt 588tgtg cctgtaattc cagctactcg ggaggctgag gcaggagaat tgcttgaacc 594gcgg aggttgcagt gagccaagat tgcaccattg cactccagcc tgggcgacaa 6aaaact ctgtctcaaa aaaaaagaaa gaaagaaaga attagccaac tgaaagcctt 6tgaggt gtgtcctctg ttagagagct gtcatcacaa ctcctacaaa agcagtcgta 6gaattc aacctctttc tctaaatgaa tatagctatt gttccctttg tgccctcttg 6actgtc ccttctgttg cccatgccaa agacagctag ctccttgaac agcttggcct 624agat actagcgtgt ctgcagcaga gaaaaaaaca gcattcccca tccagaaatg 63tcaag aacagagagc aaattaggta gctaaggact caggtcctta gttggtgtcc 636caca ttctttcctt tcaccatctc tgtagggaca ggaatacttc ccttctgtcc 642ggtc aggactcaga gaaaccacag agcagcagct caggaaagtg gttcatggaa 648gcaa gagagagggg ttacaatgcc ctcccttggg agcaggctgc tcccatcaga 654cctc tctggtatgt gggcagagct accaggttaa ggtcctccct agggtttgca 66ctcat gggatcatga gccatacaga accgacctgt gtgtctccag agtctgtaat 666aggc attttgagga aatgcgtggc ctcaggcccc actcccggct acccccatcc 672gcct agtatagtct agctgccctg gtacaattct cccagtatct tgcaggcccc 678ctat tcctactctg ctcatctggc tctcaggaac cttcttggcc ttccctttca 684taca gatgccagcc ttgtgggaaa gaagagtggg cacctgaggg aagccagacc 69cccgc gcactgtggt gtttttggct ttgcgtgagc acacctcttg ggtgctgctg 696aaca cgctgctgct gctgctgctg cttgggactg ctggcctgtt tgcctggcac 7acaccc ctgtggtgag gtcagcaggg ggccgcctgt gctttcttat gctgggctcc 7cagcag gtagtggcag cctctatggc ttctttgggg aacccacaag gcctgcgtgc 7tacgcc aggccctctt tgcccttggt ttcaccatct tcctgtcctg cctgacagtt 72attcc aactaatcat catcttcaag ttttccacca aggtacctac attctaccac 726gtcc aaaaccacgg tgctggcctg tttgtgatga tcagctcagc ggcccagctg 732tgtc taacttggct ggtggtgtgg accccactgc ctgctaggga ataccagcgc 738catc tggtgatgct tgagtgcaca gagaccaact ccctgggctt catactggcc 744taca atggcctcct ctccatcagt gcctttgcct gcagctacct gggtaaggac 75agaga actacaacga ggccaaatgt gtcaccttca gcctgctctt caacttcgtg 756atcg ccttcttcac cacggccagc gtctacgacg gcaagtacct gcctgcggcc 762atgg ctgggctgag cagcctgagc agcggcttcg gtgggtattt tctgcctaag 768gtga tcctctgccg cccagacctc aacagcacag agcacttcca ggcctccatt 774taca cgaggcgctg cggctccacc tgaccagtgg gtcagcaggc acggctggca 78ctctg ccctgagggt cgaaggtcga gcaggccggg ggtgtccggg aggtctttgg 786cggt ctggggttgg gacgtgtaag cgcctgggag agcctagacc aggctccggg 792ataa agaagtgaaa tgcgtatctg gtctcctgtc gtgggagagt gtgaggtgta 798tcaa gtctgaaccc agagcctgga aaaggctgac cgcccagatt gacgttgcta 8actccg gaggcgggcc cagcgccaaa agaacagggc gaggcgtcgt ccccgcatcc 8ggccgt tctctgcggg gccccgccct cgggggccgg agctagaagc tctacgcttc 8gcgcac ctcctggcct gcacgctttg acgt 826DNAHomo sapiens gctct gcacggctcg cctggtcggc ctgcagcttc tcatttcctg ctgctgggcc 6tgcc atagcacgga gtcttctcct gacttcaccc tccccggaga ttacctcctg gcctgt tccctctcca ttctggctgt ctgcaggtga ggcacagacc cgaggtgacc gtgaca ggtcttgtag cttcaatgag catggctacc acctcttcca ggctatgcgg 24gttg aggagataaa caactccacg gccctgctgc ccaacatcac cctggggtac 3gtatg atgtgtgttc tgactctgcc aatgtgtatg ccacgctgag agtgctctcc 36gggc aacaccacat agagctccaa ggagaccttc tccactattc ccctacggtg 42gtga ttgggcctga cagcaccaac cgtgctgcca ccacagccgc cctgctgagc 48ctgg tgcccatgat tagctatgcg gccagcagcg agacgctcag cgtgaagcgg 54ccct ctttcctgcg caccatcccc aatgacaagt accaggtgga gaccatggtg 6gctgc agaagttcgg gtggacctgg atctctctgg ttggcagcag tgacgactat 66ctag gggtgcaggc actggagaac caggccactg gtcaggggat ctgcattgct 72gaca tcatgccctt ctctgcccag gtgggcgatg agaggatgca gtgcctcatg 78ctgg cccaggccgg ggccaccgtc gtggttgttt tttccagccg gcagttggcc 84tttt tcgagtccgt ggtgctgacc aacctgactg gcaaggtgtg ggtcgcctca 9ctggg ccctctccag gcacatcact ggggtgcccg ggatccagcg cattgggatg 96ggcg tggccatcca gaagagggct gtccctggcc tgaaggcgtt tgaagaagcc gcccggg cagacaagaa ggcccctagg ccttgccaca agggctcctg gtgcagcagc cagctct gcagagaatg ccaagctttc atggcacaca cgatgcccaa gctcaaagcc tccatga gttctgccta caacgcatac cgggctgtgt atgcggtggc ccatggcctc cagctcc tgggctgtgc ctctggagct tgttccaggg gccgagtcta cccctggcag ttggagc agatccacaa ggtgcatttc cttctacaca aggacactgt ggcgtttaat aacagag atcccctcag tagctataac ataattgcct gggactggaa tggacccaag accttca cggtcctcgg ttcctccaca tggtctccag ttcagctaaa cataaatgag aaaatcc agtggcacgg aaaggacaac caggtgccta agtctgtgtg ttccagcgac cttgaag ggcaccagcg agtggttacg ggtttccatc actgctgctt tgagtgtgtg tgtgggg ctgggacctt cctcaacaag agtgacctct acagatgcca gccttgtggg gaagagt gggcacctga gggaagccag acctgcttcc cgcgcactgt ggtgtttttg ttgcgtg agcacacctc ttgggtgctg ctggcagcta acacgctgct gctgctgctg cttggga ctgctggcct gtttgcctgg cacctagaca cccctgtggt gaggtcagca ggccgcc tgtgctttct tatgctgggc tccctggcag caggtagtgg cagcctctat ttctttg gggaacccac aaggcctgcg tgcttgctac gccaggccct ctttgccctt ttcacca tcttcctgtc ctgcctgaca gttcgctcat tccaactaat catcatcttc ttttcca ccaaggtacc tacattctac cacgcctggg tccaaaacca cggtgctggc 2ttgtga tgatcagctc agcggeccag ctgcttatct gtctaacttg gctggtggtg 2ccccac tgcctgctag ggaataccag cgcttccccc atctggtgat gcttgagtgc 2agacca actccctggg cttcatactg gccttcctct acaatggcct cctctccatc 222tttg cctgcagcta cctgggtaag gacttgccag agaactacaa cgaggccaaa 228acct tcagcctgct cttcaacttc gtgtcctgga tcgccttctt caccacggcc 234tacg acggcaagta cctgcctgcg gccaacatga tggctgggct gagcagcctg 24cggct tcggtgggta ttttctgcct aagtgctacg tgatcctctg ccgcccagac 246agca cagagcactt ccaggcctcc attcaggact acacgaggcg ctgcggctcc 252 2526THomo sapiens eu Leu Cys Thr Ala Arg Leu Val Gly Leu Gln Leu Leu Ile Ser ys Trp Ala Phe Ala Cys His Ser Thr Glu Ser Ser Pro Asp Phe 2Thr Leu Pro Gly Asp Tyr Leu Leu Ala Gly Leu Phe Pro Leu His Ser 35 4 Cys Leu Gln Val Arg His Arg Pro Glu Val Thr Leu Cys Asp Arg 5Ser Cys Ser Phe Asn Glu His Gly Tyr His Leu Phe Gln Ala Met Arg 65 7Leu Gly Val Glu Glu Ile Asn Asn Ser Thr Ala Leu Leu Pro Asn Ile 85 9 Leu Gly Tyr Gln Leu Tyr Asp Val Cys Ser Asp Ser Ala Asn Val Ala Thr Leu Arg Val Leu Ser Leu Pro Gly Gln His His Ile Glu Gln Gly Asp Leu Leu His Tyr Ser Pro Thr Val Leu Ala Val Ile Pro Asp Ser Thr Asn Arg Ala Ala Thr Thr Ala Ala Leu Leu Ser Pro Phe Leu Val Pro Met Ile Ser Tyr Ala Ala Ser Ser Glu Thr Leu Val Lys Arg Gln Tyr Pro Ser Phe Leu Arg Thr Ile Pro Asn Asp Tyr Gln Val Glu Thr Met Val Leu Leu Leu Gln Lys Phe Gly Trp 2rp Ile Ser Leu Val Gly Ser Ser Asp Asp Tyr Gly Gln Leu Gly 222n Ala Leu Glu Asn Gln Ala Thr Gly Gln Gly Ile Cys Ile Ala225 234s Asp Ile Met Pro Phe Ser Ala Gln Val Gly Asp Glu Arg Met 245 25n Cys Leu Met Arg His Leu Ala Gln Ala Gly Ala Thr Val Val Val 267e Ser Ser Arg Gln Leu Ala Arg Val Phe Phe Glu Ser Val Val 275 28u Thr Asn Leu Thr Gly Lys Val Trp Val Ala Ser Glu Ala Trp Ala 29er Arg His Ile Thr Gly Val Pro Gly Ile Gln Arg Ile Gly Met33al Leu Gly Val Ala Ile Gln Lys Arg Ala Val Pro Gly Leu Lys Ala 325 33e Glu Glu Ala Tyr Ala Arg Ala Asp Lys Lys Ala Pro Arg Pro Cys 345s Gly Ser Trp Cys Ser Ser Asn Gln Leu Cys Arg Glu Cys Gln 355 36a Phe Met Ala His Thr Met Pro Lys Leu Lys Ala Phe Ser Met Ser 378a Tyr Asn Ala Tyr Arg Ala Val Tyr Ala Val Ala His Gly Leu385 391n Leu Leu Gly Cys Ala Ser Gly Ala Cys Ser Arg Gly Arg Val 44ro Trp Gln Leu Leu Glu Gln Ile His Lys Val His Phe Leu Leu 423s Asp Thr Val Ala Phe Asn Asp Asn Arg Asp Pro Leu Ser Ser 435 44r Asn Ile Ile Ala Trp Asp Trp Asn Gly Pro Lys Trp Thr Phe Thr 456u Gly Ser Ser Thr Trp Ser Pro Val Gln Leu Asn Ile Asn Glu465 478s Ile Gln Trp His Gly Lys Asp Asn Gln Val Pro Lys Ser Val 485 49s Ser Ser Asp Cys Leu Glu Gly His Gln Arg Val Val Thr Gly Phe 55is Cys Cys Phe Glu Cys Val Pro Cys Gly Ala Gly Thr Phe Leu 5525Asn Lys Ser Asp Leu Tyr Arg Cys Gln Pro Cys Gly Lys Glu Glu Trp 534o Glu Gly Ser Gln Thr Cys Phe Pro Arg Thr Val Val Phe Leu545 556u Arg Glu His Thr Ser Trp Val Leu Leu Ala Ala Asn Thr Leu 565 57u Leu Leu Leu Leu Leu Gly Thr Ala Gly Leu Phe Ala Trp His Leu 589r Pro Val Val Arg Ser Ala Gly Gly Arg Leu Cys Phe Leu Met 595 6eu Gly Ser Leu Ala Ala Gly Ser Gly Ser Leu Tyr Gly Phe Phe Gly 662o Thr Arg Pro Ala Cys Leu Leu Arg Gln Ala Leu Phe Ala Leu625 634e Thr Ile Phe Leu Ser Cys Leu Thr Val Arg Ser Phe Gln Leu 645 65e Ile Ile Phe Lys Phe Ser Thr Lys Val Pro Thr Phe Tyr His Ala 6671 Gln Asn His Gly Ala Gly Leu Phe Val Met Ile Ser Ser Ala 675 68a Gln Leu Leu Ile Cys Leu Thr Trp Leu Val Val Trp Thr Pro Leu 691a Arg Glu Tyr Gln Arg Phe Pro His Leu Val Met Leu Glu Cys77hr Glu Thr Asn Ser Leu Gly Phe Ile Leu Ala Phe Leu Tyr Asn Gly 725 73u Leu Ser Ile Ser Ala Phe Ala Cys Ser Tyr Leu Gly Lys Asp Leu 745u Asn Tyr Asn Glu Ala Lys Cys Val Thr Phe Ser Leu Leu Phe 755 76n Phe Val Ser Trp Ile Ala Phe Phe Thr Thr Ala Ser Val Tyr Asp 778s Tyr Leu Pro Ala Ala Asn Met Met Ala Gly Leu Ser Ser Leu785 79er Gly Phe Gly Gly Tyr Phe Leu Pro Lys Cys Tyr Val Ile Leu 88rg Pro Asp Leu Asn Ser Thr Glu His Phe Gln Ala Ser Ile Gln 823r Thr Arg Arg Cys Gly Ser Thr 835 84TArtificial SequenceMOD_RES(r Arg ys Xaa Xaa Arg Xaa Xaa Xaa Phe Leu Xaa Xaa Xaa Glu 9tificiai SequeneeMOD_RES(r Gln ro Xaa Xaa Tyr Asn Xaa Ala Xaa Xaa Xaa Thr Xaa Xaa Xaa 3DNAHomo sapiens 2gcag tggcctcagg cagagtctga cgcgcacaaa ctttcaggcc caggaagcga 6cact ggggccccag ggtgtggcaa gtgaggatgg caagggtttt gctaaaeaaa ctgccc gctccccgec ccgggctcac tccatgtgag gccccagtcg gggcagccac cgtgcc tgttggaagt tgcctctgcc atgctgggcc ctgctgtcct gggcctcagc 24gctc tcctgcaccc tgggacgggg gccccattgt gcctgtcaca gcaacttagg 3ggggg actacgtgct gggggggctg ttccccctgg gcgaggccga ggaggctggc 36agcc ggacacggcc cagcagccct gtgtgcacca ggtacagagg tgggacggcc 42gggg tcagggtgac caggtctggg gtgctcctga gctggggccg aggtggccat 48ttct gtgtggcccc aggttctcct caaacggcct gctctgggca ctggccatga 54ccgt ggaggagatc aacaacaagt cggatctgct gcccgggctg cgcctgggct 6ctctt tgatacgtgc tcggagcctg tggtggccat gaagcccagc ctcatgttcc 66aggc aggcagccgc gacatcgccg cctactgcaa ctacacgcag taccagcccc 72tggc tgtcatcggg ccccactcgt cagagctcgc catggtcacc ggcaagttct 78tctt cctcatgccc cagtggggcg ccccccacca tcacccaccc ccaaccaacc 84ccgt gggagcccct tgtgtcagga gaatgctaca tgcaccccac ccagccctgc 9gagcc ctgtgtcaga agatgctctt ggccttgcag gtcagctacg gtgctagcat 96gctg agcgcccggg agaccttccc ctccttcttc cgcaccgtgc ccagcgaccg gcagctg acggccgccg cggagctgct gcaggagttc ggctggaact gggtggccgc gggcagc gacgacgagt acggccggca gggcctgagc atcttctcgg ccctggccgc acgcggc atctgcatcg cgcacgaggg cctggtgccg ctgccccgtg ccgatgactc gctgggg aaggtgcagg acgtcctgca ccaggtgaac cagagcagcg tgcaggtggt gctgttc gcctccgtgc acgccgccca cgccctcttc aactacagca tcagcagcag ctcgccc aaggtgtggg tggccagcga ggcctggctg acctctgacc tggtcatggg gcccggc atggcccaga tgggcacggt gcttggcttc ctccagaggg gtgcccagct cgagttc ccccagtacg tgaagacgca cctggccctg gccaccgacc cggccttctg tgccctg ggcgagaggg agcagggtct ggaggaggac gtggtgggcc agcgctgccc gtgtgac tgcatcacgc tgcagaacgt gagcgcaggg ctaaatcacc accagacgtt tgtctac gcagctgtgt atagcgtggc ccaggccctg cacaacactc ttcagtgcaa ctcaggc tgccccgcgc aggaccccgt gaagccctgg caggtgagcc cgggagatgg tgtgctg tcctctgcat gtgcccaggc caccaggcac ggccaccacg cctgagctgg tggctgg cggctcagcc ccgtcccccg cccgcagctc ctggagaaca tgtacaacct cttccac gtgggcgggc tgccgctgcg gttcgacagc agcggaaacg tggacatgga cgacctg aagctgtggg tgtggcaggg ctcagtgccc aggctccacg acgtgggcag caacggc agcctcagga cagagcgcct gaagatccgc tggcacacgt ctgacaacca 2aggtga gggtgggtgt gccaggcgtg cccgtggtag cccccgcggc agggcgcagc 2gggtgg gggccgttcc agtctcccgt gggcatgccc agccgagcag agccagaccc 2cctgtg cgcagaagcc cgtgtcccgg tgctcgcggc agtgccagga gggccaggtg 222gtca aggggttcca ctcctgctgc tacgactgtg tggactgcga ggcgggcagc 228caaa acccaggtga gccgccttcc cggcaggcgg gggtgggaac gcagcagggg 234ctgc caagtcctga ctctgagacc agagcccaca gggtacaaga cgaacaccca 24cttct cctctctcac agacgacatc gcctgcacct tttgtggcca ggatgagtgg 246gagc gaagcacacg ctgcttccgc cgcaggtctc ggttcctggc atggggcgag 252gtgc tgctgctgct cctgctgctg agcctggcgc tgggccttgt gctggctgct 258ctgt tcgttcacca tcgggacagc ccactggttc aggcctcggg ggggcccctg 264tttg gcctggtgtg cctgggcctg gtctgcctca gcgtcctcct gttccctggc 27cagcc ctgcccgatg cctggcccag cagcccttgt cccacctccc gctcacgggc 276agca cactcttcct gcaggcggcc gagatcttcg tggagtcaga actgcctctg 282gcag accggctgag tggctgcctg cgggggccct gggcctggct ggtggtgctg 288atgc tggtggaggt cgcactgtgc acctggtacc tggtggcctt cccgccggag 294acgg actggcacat gctgcccacg gaggcgctgg tgcactgccg cacacgctcc 3tcagct tcggcctagc gcacgccacc aatgccacgc tggcctttct ctgcttcctg 3ctttcc tggtgcggag ccagccgggc tgctacaacc gtgcccgtgg cctcaccttt 3tgctgg cctacttcat cacctgggtc tcctttgtgc ccctcctggc caatgtgcag 3tcctca ggcccgccgt gcagatgggc gccctcctgc tctgtgtcct gggcatcctg 324ttcc acctgcccag gtgttacctg ctcatgcggc agccagggct caacaccccc 33cttcc tgggaggggg ccctggggat gcccaaggcc agaatgacgg gaacacagga 336ggga aacatgagtg acccaaccct gtgatctcag ccccggtgaa cccagactta 342atcc cccccaagcc agcaatgacc cgtgtctcgc tacagagacc ctcccgctct 348tgac cccaggttgt ctcctgaccc tgaccccaca gtgagcccta ggcctggagc 354acac ccctgtgacc atc 3563 85Artificial Sequencemodified_base(3)a, c, t, g, other or unknown 5cgnttyytng cntggggnga rcc 23623DNAArtificial Sequencemodified_base(3)a, c, t, g, other or unknown 6cgngcncgrt trtarcancc ngg 2379PRTHomo sapiens 7Arg Phe Leu Ala Trp Gly Glu Pro Ala THomo sapiens 

1-235. (canceled) 236-277. (canceled)
 278. A nucleic acid construct encoding a chimeric T1R3 taste receptor polypeptide or an expression vector containing wherein the nucleic acid construct comprises the extracellular domain of a first T1R polypeptide and the transmembrane region of a second T1R, wherein said chimeric T1R3 taste receptor polypeptide contains either the extracellular or the transmembrane domain of a human T1R3 polypeptide and further comprises either the transmembrane region of a different T1R or the extracellular domain of a different T1R polypeptide, wherein said different T1R polypeptide is a human or rodent T1R1, or T1R2 or a rodent T1R3 polypeptide selected from rat and mouse T1R3.
 279. The nucleic acid construct or vector of claim 278 wherein the human T1R3 extracellular domain is at least 90% identical to the T1R3 extracellular domain contained in the T1R3 polypeptide of SEQ ID NO: 4 or is a T1R3 extracellular domain encoded by a DNA that hybridizes under stringent hybridization conditions to the T1R3 genomic DNA of SEQ ID NO:20.
 280. The nucleic acid construct of claim 278 wherein said stringent hybridization conditions are conducting hybridization at 42 degrees C. in a solution comprising 50% formamide, 5×SSC, and 1% SDS; and washing at 65 degrees C. in a solution containing 0.2×SSC and 0.1% SDS.
 281. The nucleic acid construct of claim 278 wherein the T1R3 extracellular domain is a human T1R3 taste receptor polypeptide that possesses at least 90% sequence identity to the T1R3 extracellular domain comprised in SEQ ID NO:4.
 282. An expression vector according to claim
 278. 283. An expression vector according to claim 278 that comprises a nucleic acid sequence that encodes for a chimeric human T1R3 taste receptor polypeptide containing the extracellular region of human T1R3 and the transmembrane region of a T1R other than human T1R3 selected from human and rodent T1R1 and T1R2 and rodent T1R3.
 284. An expression vector according to claim 278 that comprises a nucleic acid sequence that encodes for a chimeric human T1R3 taste receptor polypeptide containing the transmembrane region of human T1R3 and the extracellular region of a T1R other than human T1R3 selected from human and rodent T1R1 and T1R2 and rodent T1R3.
 285. A recombinant host cell comprising an expression vector according to claim
 278. 286. A recombinant host cell comprising an expression vector according to claim
 283. 287. A recombinant host cell comprising an expression vector according to claim 284
 288. The nucleic acid construct or vector of claim 278 wherein the nucleic acid construct comprises non-human DNA.
 289. The nucleic acid construct or vector of claim 288 wherein the non-human DNA is selected from the group consisting of bacterial, yeast, insect, plant and non-human mammalian DNA.
 290. The nucleic acid construct of claim 278 which further comprises a DNA fragment encoding a detectable polypeptide.
 291. The nucleic acid construct of claim 290 wherein said detectable polypeptide is rhodopsin or a green fluorescent polypeptide.
 292. The nucleic acid construct or vector of claim 278 wherein the nucleic acid sequence encoding the chimeric T1R3 polypeptide is operably linked to a regulatable promoter.
 293. The nucleic acid construct or expression vector of claim 278 wherein the nucleic acid sequence encoding the chimeric T1R3 polypeptide is operably linked to a constitutive promoter.
 294. The nucleic acid construct or expression vector of claim 278 wherein said T1R3 nucleic acid sequence encodes a polypeptide having at least 96% sequence identity with the extracellular or transmembrane T1R3 polypeptide of the human T1R3 polypeptide of SEQ ID NO:4.
 295. The nucleic acid construct or expression vector of claim 278 wherein said T1R3 nucleic acid sequence encodes a polypeptide having at least 97% sequence identity with the extracellular or transmembrane T1R3 polypeptide of the human T1R3 polypeptide of SEQ ID NO:4.
 296. The nucleic acid construct or expression vector of claim 278 wherein said T1R3 nucleic acid sequence encodes a polypeptide having at least 98% sequence identity with the extracellular or transmembrane T1R3 polypeptide of the human T1R3 polypeptide of SEQ ID NO:4.
 297. The nucleic acid construct or expression vector of claim 278 wherein said T1R3 nucleic acid sequence encodes a polypeptide having at least 99% sequence identity with the extracellular or transmembrane T1R3 polypeptide of the human T1R3 polypeptide of SEQ ID NO:4.
 300. The nucleic acid construct or expression vector of claim 278 wherein the T1R3 nucleic acid sequence comprises cDNA or genomic DNA.
 301. The nucleic acid construct or expression vector of claim 300 wherein the T1R3 transmembrane or extracellular encoding DNA is a cDNA.
 302. The nucleic acid construct or expression vector of claim 300 wherein the T1R3 transmembrane or extracellular region encoding DNA is a genomic DNA. 